Losange Bleu led from the front to claim the Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil at Auteuil on 16/05/2026 while the Irish challenger Home By The Lee was pulled up during the contest
On 16/05/2026 at Auteuil, the prestigious three-mile hurdle known as the Racing TV Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil produced a decisive display from Losange Bleu. The Martaline gelding controlled the tempo from the front, dictating the pace through the long trip and asserting superiority in the closing stages.
This was a classic example of a front-running tactic executed to perfection: steady early fractions, a sustained gallop into the straight and a confident final effort over the last obstacle. The result left little doubt about the winner’s stamina and race craft, and it reshaped the narrative of the day at the Parisian course.
The meeting was notable both for the victor and for those who failed to find their rhythm: the highly regarded Irish contender Home By The Lee was ultimately pulled up after encountering trouble during the race, while the mare Apple Away ran on to finish sixth and Paul Nicholls’ Henri The Second was also withdrawn mid-race.
The contest featured eleven runners in a tactical and stamina-sapping heat. Jockey JJ Slevin was partnered with Home By The Lee, and the horse’s connections — trainer Joseph O’Brien and owner-breeder Sean O’Driscoll — had arrived hoping to cap a remarkable spring campaign that had raised significant expectations.
How the race unfolded
From the break, Losange Bleu took the initiative and maintained a relentless gallop that others found difficult to match. By the time the field turned for home, the leader had already built a useful advantage and jumped the final obstacle in command. The finishing sequence saw Losange Bleu extend clear to win by a substantial margin, with Theleme emerging as the main challenger to claim place money. Meanwhile, Illusion Machine mounted an effort to stay with the pace but could not reel in the frontrunner. The picture was one of a horse allowed to bowl along untroubled and then produce a strong closing phase under minimal pressure, a textbook example of how race tactics and course suitability combine to deliver a Grade 1 success.
Home By The Lee: season form and race-day setback
Preparation and seasonal highlights
The eleven-year-old Home By The Lee arrived at Auteuil on the back of an exceptional spell of form in 2026 that included a Grade 2 win in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park followed by top-level victories in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. Trained by Joseph O’Brien for owner-breeder Sean O’Driscoll, the staying veteran had been widely praised for hitting a new peak this season, with connections describing his recent performances as the best of his career. Such a sequence made him a headline challenger at Auteuil and set high hopes among Irish supporters who had travelled for the contest.
What happened at Auteuil
Despite the strong seasonal form, Home By The Lee never settled into the contest. Reports indicate he began to struggle around halfway and subsequently dropped through the field before being pulled up prior to the second circuit. That decision to stop was a precautionary and welfare-led measure taken by the rider and connections once it was clear the gelding was not responding as expected on the day. The abrupt end to his bid was disappointing given the horse’s recent heroics, but it underlines the unpredictable nature of staying tests over big French hurdles where pace, ground and race rhythm can all conspire against a traveller.
Reactions, other runners and what comes next
Trainer Dominique Bressou — responsible for Losange Bleu — indicated there would be no change to the winner’s usual tactics after the race, noting that the horse performs best when allowed to bowl along. Other camps reflected mixed fortunes: Lucinda Russell emphasised optimism for Apple Away after a solid comeback at Perth and highlighted that mares’ allowances and softer ground could suit her at international assignments, while Paul Nicholls’ raider left the course having been withdrawn mid-race. Several trainers pointed to fitness, prep choices and ground conditions as key variables that shaped each performance and will inform plans for the summer and autumn campaigns.
In summary, the afternoon at Auteuil on 16/05/2026 belonged to a dominant display from Losange Bleu, whose front-running tactics and stamina delivered victory in one of Europe’s most demanding hurdle tests. For supporters of Home By The Lee there will be a period of reflection and assessment after an unexpected early exit, but the horse’s spring remains an outstanding achievement. The result will prompt fresh conversations about targeting international staying races and how connections manage form, fitness and travel when elite staying talent crosses borders.
