Harry Fry's Activial promoted in Paris
Sunday 26 April 2015 17:37, UK
Harry Fry's British raider Activial was promoted to fourth place after finishing fifth as Voiladenuo claimed top honours in the Prix Leon Rambaud at Auteuil.
Activial headed to Paris having finished third in three of the season's most competitive handicaps on British soil, placing in The Ladbroke at Ascot, the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
Ridden by Bertrand Lestrade, the five-year-old travelled well for a long way, hugging the rail in the ultra-testing conditions.
He began to close on the leaders shortly before the home turn, but racing away from the main of the action, he could only stay on at the one pace in the straight.
On the other side of the track there was a thrilling finish and it was 4/1 shot Voiladenuo who won the day for trainer Guy Denuault and jockey Wilfrid Denuault.
Saint Firmin filled the runner-up spot with Le Chateau third past the post, only to be disqualified at a subsequent inquiry prompting the promotion of Hippomene to third and Activial to fourth.
