The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris is a Group 1 steeplechase in France which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Auteuil over a distance of 6,000 metres, and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped. It is the richest and most prestigious jumps race in France, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late May.
History The event was first run on 25 May 1874, and it was initially known as the Grand National de France. It was intended to be the French equivalent of the Grand National, a famous steeplechase in England. It was originally a handicap race, and it was open to horses aged four or older. The inaugural running was contested over 6,400 metres, and this was cut to 6,000 metres in its second year. The race was given its present title, the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris, in 1876. Its distance was extended to 6,500 metres in 1889.
The race ceased to be a handicap in 1890, when a fixed "weight-for-age" system was introduced. Four-year-old horses were required to carry 62½ kg, five-year-olds 70 kg and older horses 72½ kg. A penalty of 6 kg was incurred on the previous winners of either this race or the Grand National. The basic weights were subsequently modified several times, and the penalty was gradually reduced until it was eventually discontinued.
The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. Its length was increased to 6,900 metres in 1924, and then restored to 6,500 metres in 1926. During World War II it was cancelled only once, in 1940. The minimum age of participating horses was raised to five in 1941. The race's distance was reduced to 6,300 metres in 1969, but it returned to 6,500 metres in 1971. The present format, 5,800 metres with twenty-three fences, was introduced in 1981.
The three most successful horses in the race's history are Hyeres III, Katko and Mid Dancer, who have all recorded three victories. A further ten have won the event twice, most recently Docteur de Ballon in 2020 and 2021. Two winners, Jerry M and Troytown, also achieved victory in the Grand National. Twelve foreign-trained horses have won, the latest of which was Mandarin in 1962, trained in England by Fulke Walwyn. The most recent foreign contender to finish in second place was the Irish-trained Captain Christy in 1975. The only American owner to win the race was Magalen O Bryant. She won the race 3 years in a row . 2015-2017
Records Leading jockey (5 wins): Jean Daumas – Xanthor (1959), Cousin Pons (1961), Hyères III (1964, 1965, 1966)
Leading trainer (9 wins): André Adèle
Leading owner (6 wins): Arthur Veil-Picard – Saint Caradec (1909), Blagueur II (1911), Ultimatum (1913), Fleuret (1935), Ingre (1937, 1939)
Winners since 1949 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner 1949 Bouzoulou 6 René Beche Daniel Lescalle André de Fels 1950 Meli Melo 8 René Emery William Head Lucienne Aurousseau 1951 Nagara 9 Paul Hiéronimus Noël Pelat James P. Philipps 1952 Tournay 5 Pierre Delfarguiel Robert Baril Georges Courtois 1953 Pharamond 7 Marcel Maschio Maurice Adèle René Landon 1954 Orleans 7 Paul Péraldi Valère Péraldi Roger Nachbaum 1955 Farfatch 5 Claude Maire Maurice Wallon Edouard Gugenheim 1956 Necor 8 Henri T'Kint Peter Head Jean Etchepare 1957 Bonosnap 6 Guy Chancelier Georges Pelat Antonin Mourrut 1958 Sidere 7 Maurice Prod'homme André Adèle Baron Henry de Blonay 1959 Xanthor 9 Jean Daumas Henri Gleizes James de Rothschild 1960 Kingcraft 10 Gérard Philippeau Peter Head Jean de Marcilly 1961 Cousin Pons 5 Jean Daumas Max Bonaventure Jean Stern 1962 Mandarin 11 Fred Winter Fulke Walwyn Peggy Hennessy 1963 Loreto 9 René Kirchhofer Pierre Pelat Pierre Mercier 1964 Hyeres III 6 Jean Daumas Léon Gaumondy Max Gadala 1965 Hyeres III 7 Jean Daumas Léon Gaumondy Max Gadala 1966 Hyeres III 8 Jean Daumas Léon Gaumondy Mrs Léon Gaumondy 1967 Cacao 6 Gérard Migeon Henri Gleizes Baron P. de Posson 1968 Haroue 6 Bernard Vanheeghe Léon Gaumondy Jérôme Blum 1969 Huron 5 Claude Drieu André Adèle Bernard Larrousé 1970 Huron 6 Claude Drieu André Adèle Bernard Larrousé 1971 Pot d'Or 5 J. J. Declercq Maurice Wallon Robert Weill 1972 Morgex 8 Jean-Paul Ciravegna Jean Sens Mrs Michel Marie 1973 Giquin 6 Jean-Pierre Creveuil André Adèle María Félix Berger 1974 Chic Type 7 Jean-Pierre Renard Jean-Jacques Beaumé Gaston Murray 1975 Air Landais 5 Patrick Beyer Georges Pelat Mrs Marie-Claire Frolich 1976 Piomares 5 Guy Négrel Domingo Perea Joseph Kalda 1977 Corps a Corps 5 André Fabre André Adèle Baron Thierry van Zuylen 1978 Mon Filleul 5 Jean-Luc Llorens Bernard Sécly Jean-Claude Weill 1979 Chinco 7 Patrice Brame Jean-Paul Gallorini Giuseppe Campanella 1980 Fondeur 7 Marc Legrand André Fabre Albert Bézard 1981 Isopani 7 Alain Chelet André Fabre Pierre David 1982 Metatero 9 Bruno Jollivet André Fabre Gérard Margogne 1983 Jasmin II 8 Michel Chirol André Fabre Michel Thibault 1984 Brodi Dancer 6 Denis Leblond Pierre Biancone Mrs Claude Diallo 1985 Sir Gain 6 Serge Bérard Léon Gaumondy Mrs Louis Belotti 1986 Otage du Perche 6 Serge Bérard Philippe Lamotte d'Argy Philippe Lamotte d'Argy 1987 Oteuil 7 Bruno Jollivet René Cherruau Mrs Raymond Saulais 1988 Katko 5 Dominique Vincent Bernard Sécly Pierre de Montesson 1989 Katko 6 Jean-Yves Beaurain Bernard Sécly Pierre de Montesson 1990 Katko 7 Jean-Yves Beaurain Bernard Sécly Pierre de Montesson 1991 The Fellow 6 Dominique Vincent François Doumen Marquesa de Moratalla 1992 El Triunfo 6 Dominique Vincent François Rohaut Mrs Francis Montauban 1993 Ucello II 7 Christophe Aubert François Doumen Marquesa de Moratalla 1994 Ucello II 8 Christophe Aubert François Doumen Marquesa de Moratalla 1995 Ubu III 9 Philippe Chevalier François Doumen Marquesa de Moratalla 1996 Arenice 8 Philippe Sourzac Guillaume Macaire Mrs Francis Montauban 1997 Al Capone II 9 Jean-Yves Beaurain Bernard Sécly Robert Fougedoire 1998 First Gold 5 Thierry Doumen François Doumen Marquesa de Moratalla 1999 Mandarino 6 Philippe Chevalier Marcel Rolland Mrs Didier Ricard 2000 Vieux Beaufai 7 Pierre Bigot Frédéric Danloux Ecurie Siklos 2001 Kotkijet 6 Thierry Majorcryk Jean-Paul Gallorini Daniel Wildenstein 2002 El Paso III 10 Laurent Métais Bernard Sécly Robert Fougedoire 2003 Line Marine 6 Christophe Pieux Christophe Aubert Mrs Georges Vuillard 2004 Kotkijet 9 Thierry Majorcryk Jean-Paul Gallorini Ecurie Wildenstein 2005 Sleeping Jack 6 Christophe Pieux Jacques Ortet Raoul Temam 2006 Princesse d'Anjou 5 Philip Carberry François-Marie Cottin Jean-Paul Sénéchal 2007 Mid Dancer 6 Cyrille Gombeau Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé Sean Mulryan 2008 Princesse d'Anjou 7 Philip Carberry François-Marie Cottin Jean-Paul Sénéchal 2009 Remember Rose 6 Christophe Pieux Jean-Paul Gallorini Ernst Iten 2010 Polar Rochelais 7 Jerôme Zuliani Patrice Quinton Ecurie des Dunes 2011 Mid Dancer 10 Sylvain Dehez Christophe Aubert Pegasus Farms Ltd 2012 Mid Dancer 11 Sylvain Dehez Christophe Aubert Pegasus Farms Ltd 2013 Bel La Vie 7 Bertrande Lestrade Guillaume Macaire Mme Patrick Papot 2014 Storm Of Saintly 5 Vincent Cheminaud Guillaume Macaire Jeannot Andt 2015 Milord Thomas 6 Jacques Ricou Dominique Bressou Magalen O Bryant 2016 So French 5 James Reveley Guillaume Macaire Magalen O Bryant 2017 So French 6 James Reveley Guillaume Macaire Magalen O Bryant 2018 On The Go 5 James Reveley Guillaume Macaire Mme Patrick Papot 2019 Carriacou 7 Davy Russell Isabelle Pacault Ecurie Mirande 2020 Docteur de Ballon 8 Bertrand Lestrade Louisa Carberry Mme Robert Gasche-Luc 2021 Docteur de Ballon 9 Bertrand Lestrade Louisa Carberry Mme Robert Gasche-Luc 2022 Sel Jem 5 Johnny Charron Hector de Lageneste & Guillaume Macaire Mme Patrick Papot 2023 Rosario Baron 6 Johnny Charron Daniele Mele Frederic De Sousa & Mme Mauricette De Sousa 2024 Gran Diose 8 Clement Lefebvre Louisa Carberry F & O Hinderze Racing & Luc Monnet 2025 Diamond Carl 7 Clement Lefebvre Francois Nicolle Mme Patrick Papot 2026 Sel Jem 9 Johnny Charron Hector de Lageneste & Guillaume Macaire Mme Patrick Papot
Earlier winners
1874 – Miss Hungerford 1875 – La Veine 1876 – Ventriloque 1877 – Congress 1878 – Wild Monarch 1879 – Wild Monarch 1880 – Recruit II 1881 – Maubourguet 1882 – Whisper Low 1883 – Too Good 1884 – Varaville 1885 – Redpath 1886 – Boissy 1887 – La Vigne 1888 – Parasang 1889 – Le Torpilleur 1890 – Royal Meath 1891 – Saida 1892 – Fleurissant 1893 – Skedaddle 1894 – Loutch 1895 – Styrax 1896 – Valois 1897 – Solitaire 1898 – Marise 1899 – Tancarville 1900 – Melibee 1901 – Calabrais 1902 – Gratin 1903 – Veinard 1904 – Dandolo 1905 – Canard 1906 – Burgrave II 1907 – Grosse Mere 1908 – Dandolo 1909 – Saint Caradec 1910 – Jerry M 1911 – Blagueur II 1912 – Hopper 1913 – Ultimatum 1914 – Lord Loris 1915–18 – no race 1919 – Troytown 1920 – Coq Gaulois 1921 – Roi Belge 1922 – Hertes XII 1923 – L'Yser 1924 – Master Bob 1925 – Silvo 1926 – Portmore 1927 – The Coyote 1928 – Maguelonne 1929 – Le Touquet 1930 – Le Fils de la Lune 1931 – La Fregate 1932 – Duc d'Anjou 1933 – Millionnaire II 1934 – Agitato 1935 – Fleuret 1936 – Potentate 1937 – Ingre 1938 – Heve 1939 – Ingre 1940 – no race 1941 – Kerfany 1942 – Symbole 1943 – Kargal 1944 – Hahnhof 1945 – Boum 1946 – Lindor 1947 – Lindor 1948 – Rideo
See also List of French jump horse races Recurring events established in 1874 – this race is included under its original title, Grand National de France.
References Racing Post: , , , , ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
galop.courses-france.com: 1874–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present france-galop.com – A Brief History: Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. pedigreequery.com – Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris – Auteuil. tbheritage.com – Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. galopp-sieger.de – Grand Steeplechase de Paris