Hippodrome de Pau will brace itself for a demanding winter afternoon on Tuesday, January 20, as a carefully balanced eight-race programme unfolds against the backdrop of testing ground and sharp seasonal form. With two flat contests and six obstacle races scheduled between 1:11 pm and 5:25 pm, the meeting will lean heavily into stamina, resilience, and tactical judgment. At its core will sit the €83,000 Prix Equidia (Prix Annie Hutton), a steeplechase that will stand not above the card, but firmly at its heart, setting the tone for a day where every contest will carry consequence and depth.
The afternoon will open on the flat with the Prix de Denguín at 1:11 pm, a Class 3 contest over 2,000 metres for entire horses, geldings, and mares aged four and above. With eight runners declared and €16,500 on offer, the race will provide an early gauge of pace and positioning on a surface that often asks questions sooner than expected.
Attention will then turn sharply to the feature obstacles for Race 2, the Prix Equidia (Prix Annie Hutton), a steeplechase handicap for horses aged five and older over a demanding 4,700 metres at 1:55pm. Sixteen runners will line up for the €83,000 prize, and the added presentation of a souvenir to the winning owner will underline the race’s prestige. Endurance, jumping accuracy, and patience will be non-negotiable as Pau’s fences take centre stage.
Contenders: Kidnappeur, King Le Dun, Nomade, Jaguar Du Large, Karnaval Point, Gaz Gaz, Our Dream, Easter Sunday, Caitlin’s Court, Fripon Du Seuil along with a few more.
The hurdles sequence will continue at 2:30 pm with the Prix de Gramont, a Class 3 contest for four-year-old fillies over 3,500 metres. Eight runners will compete for €34,000, with developing hurdlers likely to be tested thoroughly by the track’s rhythm and winter conditions.
At 3:05 pm, mares aged five and above will contest the Prix Jean Bernet, another Class 3 hurdles race over 3,500 metres. Eleven runners will be in action for a €34,000 purse, in a race that promises depth, balance, and tactical nuance.
The Prix de la Chalosse will follow at 3:40 pm, restricted to four-year-old colts and geldings in a Class 3 hurdles contest over the same 3,500-metre trip. With eleven runners and €34,000 at stake, this race is expected to reward maturity and composure under pressure.
Flat racing will briefly return at 4:15 pm with the Prix de Rontignon, a Class 3 handicap over 2,400 metres for four-year-old colts, geldings, and fillies. Eleven runners will chase €22,100, where positioning and timing will be decisive on tiring ground.
The late stages will be dominated once again by steeplechasing, starting with the Prix Charles de Vanssay at 4:50 pm. This 4,700-metre handicap for horses aged five and over will attract fourteen runners competing for €53,000 in a race that often proves unforgiving late on.
The card will conclude at 5:25 pm with the Prix du Pic du Midi, a hurdles handicap over 3,800 metres for five-year-olds. Eleven runners will vie for €64,000, closing the afternoon with a final test of stamina and nerve.
With winter conditions, varied disciplines, and a strong feature steeplechase anchoring the programme, Pau Racecards 20 January will promise intensity, balance, and uncompromising racing from start to finish.
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