The long shot at 18/1 Comtesse du Chene (6f Quaker Jet-Imperiale du Chene) took the seventh leg of the Gr. III Grand National du Trot Paris-Turf (purse €90,000, 2550 meters distance handicap, 16 starters, Q+ race of the day) held at Hippodrome Reims.
Franck Nivard teamed the winner that overcame a 25 meter handicap to record her seventh career win in 32 outings for €341,650 earned. Julien LeMer trains the Comtesse for Claude Guedj.
The 9/1 Cicero Neo (6g Mandarino Blue-Ma Belle Reine) was second for driver Pierre Vercruysse and breeder/owner/trainer Jan Vanhoucke. 24/1 and 25 meter penalized Cathy A Quira (6f Password-Quira des Jacquets) took third for Alexandre Abrivard, trainer Jorma Niskanen and breeder/owner Etienne Desmet.
The 4.8/1 Direct Way (5g Quaker Jet) and 45.1 Artiste de Joudes (8m Prodigious), this one also 25 meter handicapped, completed the top five. Race time was a quick 1.11.6kr.
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On the undercard was the Prix Jacques Moreau (purse €26,000, 2600 meters, 11 European starters) and 8/1 Onceforall Face (7g Viking Kronos-Lemonsoda OM) scored timed in 1.13.3kr for Pierre Vercruysse, trainer Jeppe Juel and Team Juel. 6.5/1 Abercombis (8g Hyperis) was second for trainer/driver J.F. Senet and 8.7/1 Virus (9g Bassano) took third driven by Tanguy Devouassoux for the breeder/owner/trainer Thierry Devouassoux.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink