Galop Marin makes it fantastic four as Thyme Hill comes unstuck in Auteuil glue

Galop Marin proved himself one of the great staying hurdlers of modern Auteuil history when outbattling the classy L'Autonomie to land a fourth success in a row in the Grand Prix d'Automne.

The highly anticipated challenge of Aintree Stayer's Hurdle winner Thyme Hill failed to properly materialise as the Philip Hobbs-trained challenger struggled to cope with the holding turf.

Tom O'Brien's mount took a little while to warm to the jumping task and was never in his comfort zone when pursuing Galop Marin and L'Autonomie, who took turns in setting the pace.

Making his first start since his Aintree win in April, Thyme Hill stuck manfully to the task but became detached from the leading pair turning out of the back straight for the last time and finished a tired fifth.

"Tom thought the main thing was that he's not encountered ground that is so holding before," said Hobbs. "He wasn't really happy at any stage.

"He wasn't very clever at one or two down the back the first time but overall I wouldn't blame his jumping, the ground was the biggest issue. Hopefully the Long Walk at Ascot is still the plan."

Winning trainer Dominique Bressou usually has to endure watching Galop Marin get outpaced over shorter distances apart from the Grande Course de Haies, which is typically run on quicker ground at a time in the spring that does not agree as much with the nine-year-old.

"L'Automonie made a mockery of us in the Grande Course in a way I couldn't really understand," said Bressou. "I don't know why but he is very seasonal and he loves this really testing ground.

Galop Marin flanked by jockey Morgan Regairaz, owner Xavier Papot (green scarf) and trainer Dominique Bressou (pale raincoat)Credit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

"We put all our heart into this race and Morgan was clear he didn't want to just set the race up for L'Autonomie, he wanted to let her pass him and take a turn in the lead. It was his choice to stay up the centre of the straight and not follow her across to the rail."

Francois Nicolle was gracious in defeat, despite L'Autonomie adding to his growing list of losses to Galop Marin in this race.

"She is less deadly at this end of the year and Galop Marin lives for this race," said Nicolle. "Every horse has the right to be beaten and I hope we'll get to see her again in the spring, if her owner agrees.

"He is a crack who has seen off Alex De Larredya, De Bon Coeur and L'Autonomie in turn. He is always there and that is the proof of all great champions.

"He can be a bit below par earlier in the season but at the end of the year he is so tough."

Upping The Ante star Gavin Lynch joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday.