Champion jockey Tony McCoy will ride Grands Crus when he goes for French Champion Hurdle glory at Auteuil this weekend.
The grey was a brilliant winner of the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January and went on to chase home legendary stayer Big Buck’s in both the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and at Aintree.
He heads across the Channel in a bid to secure a Grade One prize of his own and his trainer David Pipe, who will also saddle Or Noir De Somoza on the card, is looking forward to the challenge.
“We will have two runners in France this weekend as Grands Crus takes in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, while Or Noir de Somoza runs in the Grade Two Prix des Drags Steeplechase,” the trainer told his website.
“I am delighted that in the absence of stable jockey Tom Scudamore we have been able to secure the services of sixteen-times champion jockey AP McCoy for the ride aboard Grands Crus.
“He is very well at home and will certainly appreciate the softer ground that is inevitably prevailing at the French racecourses.
“There is a strong overseas contingent present among the entries with leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins represented by Thousand Stars, Mourad, Final Approach as well as that incredible mare Quevega.”
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