Un De Sceaux well beaten in France as Ptit Zig takes Champion Hurdle

Ptit Zig came with a rare old rattle under Sam Twiston-Davies to land the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle) at Auteuil.

Under a well-timed ride, the Paul Nicholls-trained 22-1 winner came from off the pace to score by two lengths from Alex De Larredya, with top French hope Blue Dragon head back in third.

Blue Dragon and the Willie Mullins-trained Un De Sceaux, who had previously beaten Ptit Zig by over 12 lengths in the Grade Two Prix La Barka at Auteuil last month but was trying a trip in excess of three miles for the first time, set a strong pace.

The pair looked to have it to themselves turning in, despite being split by the width of the track.

Blue Dragon came wide up the stands side and still had a three-length lead jumping the last, as Un De Sceaux put in a tired leap.

However, he could not maintain his momentum and as he begain to flounder, Ptit Zig, who had won the Select Hurdle at Sandown on his previous start, swept past with 300 yards to go and won going away.

Nicholls said: “I’m delighted. This was a race we had been targeting for some time and Sandown was a bit of an afterthought really.

“We put the blinkers on him and that helped and the race panned out as expected — we thought the front-runners Un De Sceaux and Blue Dragon might not stay and Sam has ridden the perfect race. We knew he’d stay.

“We will probably keep him over hurdles now. He does not jump fences well enough and to be fair, he doesn’t jump hurdles that well either, but he has plenty of stamina. There are plenty of good staying hurdles for him.”

Co-owner Barry Fulton added: “I can’t believe it. It’s absolutely brilliant. We thought coming to the last he might get third, as he was three lengths down, but he stayed on really well.”

Un De Sceaux's trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh had earlier enjoyed better luck as Footpad claimed the Grade One Prix Alain du Breil.