Selma De Vary (4/1) and Paul Townend produce a clinical Grade 1 success for Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci at Auteuil
Selma De Vary delivered a decisive performance to claim the Grade 1 Prix Alain De Breil at Auteuil. Ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins, the filly carried the Rich Ricci colours to victory over the testing Parisian turf.
This was a prominent result for connections and reinforced the filly’s standing among her generation after a string of strong runnings.
The winner, priced at 4/1, is a daughter of Zarak who took the four-year-old hurdle over 2m 3f and 85 yards.
Townend, who had finished runner-up aboard the same mount in the Grade 1 Boodles Hurdle at Aintree on 9 April, elected to keep the French-bred wide as the ground remained heavy from persistent rain. His tactics and timing proved decisive as the race unfolded.
Race summary and finishing order
The contest boiled down to a short, intense duel in the straight. After making a bold move down the back straight to position his filly prominently, Townend asked for a sustained effort approaching the final hurdles. Delmegan, one of the joint-favourites, mounted a fierce late challenge but was denied by a neck at the line. The other 2/1 joint-favourite, Leopard Du Berlais, finished third, some six-and-a-half lengths adrift of the runner-up. The finish underscored how marginal differences in jumping and momentum can determine outcomes at the highest level.
Tactical notes and track conditions
The going at Auteuil played a central role in the race narrative. On a rain-soaked course, Townend deliberately kept his mount wide in search of marginally better ground, a strategy that paid dividends in the closing stages. The decision to ride around the pack rather than tuck in early reflects a measured approach to soft underfoot conditions, where footing and clear jumping lines often trump early positional advantage.
Townend’s ride
As a former Irish champion jockey, Townend demonstrated composure and timing, delivering a move that lifted the filly into contention without overtaxing her. His eye-catching surge on the back straight allowed Selma De Vary to travel into the final two hurdles in a position to challenge. When asked, she responded with two clean jumps and a tenacious battle to the line, illustrating both the rider’s judgement and the filly’s developing temperament.
Jumping and physical response
The mare’s jumping under pressure was a standout element. She cleared the final flights well and kept up a relentless gallop despite heavy going. Observers noted her willingness to fight for every stride, a quality that complements her pedigree as an offspring of Zarak. Connections will likely view this display as evidence of both current ability and future potential over similar distances and conditions.
Implications and outlook
This victory represents a notable success for trainer Willie Mullins, providing another top-level triumph in a prestigious French hurdle. For the owners racing in Rich Ricci colours, the result reinforces the investment in a filly who now has a major international win on her record. The narrowness of the victory over Delmegan suggests close parity among the leading contenders, but the manner of the performance should boost confidence moving forward.
What the margin tells us
A neck margin against a joint-favourite indicates both the competitiveness of the division and the value of racecraft in marginal ground. With Leopard Du Berlais back in third by six-and-a-half lengths, the finishing spread reveals how the race shaped up late and why tactical choices on soft ground can create separations that would not appear on faster surfaces.
All told, the Auteuil result confirmed Selma De Vary as a top-class juvenile hurdler in testing conditions. The partnership of Townend and Mullins continues to produce high-profile successes, and this win will be discussed by punters and pundits alike as plans are made for the filly’s next targets.
