Cheltenham Review 2022

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2022 FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

PULLOUT REVIEW

Featuring the sires and stories that stood out during four days of fantastic racing

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Friday, March 25, 2022 racingpost.com

BLOODSTOCK SPECIAL CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL REVIEW

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ELL, that’s another festival stored away in the memory banks, and as ever there was plenty to look back on, most of it good but some of it sad, such as the fatal injury sustained by €470,000 online sale purchase Ginto.

For owners and breeders who lose a rising star, and for fans of any particular such horse, there is the additional regret of not knowing what he or she would have become. Ginto looked the likely winner of the Albert Bartlett when suffering his mishap before the last flight; hopefully Bective Stud and Gordon Elliott’s team will have better luck for the rest of the season.

One remarkable statistic of last week was that no fewer than 26 individual sires had a winner. Only Jeremy and Fame And Glory, both among those unfortunately no longer with us, managed two, with Jeremy ending as leading sire courtesy of a thirdplaced finisher.

The 28 prizes have never been distributed so equitably, and it was good to see lesser-known names such as Alkaadhem, Gris De Gris and Well Chosen sharing the podium with the likes of No Risk At All, Walk In The Park and Yeats.

The first section of our supplement sees Martin Stevens running the rule over some of the sires whose progeny helped write last week’s headlines, and speaking to Pascal Noue of Haras de la Hetraie about A Plus Tard’s sire Kapgarde and the stud’s other stallions.

James Thomas is behind two further excellent interviews, first with Richard Rohan of Ballytrasna Stud, and then Harold Kirk, a key cog in the Willie Mullins machine, while Scott Burton chats to Philippe Decouz, cobreeder of Vauban.

We also have all the statistics for sires and breeders, plus results, with everything all expertly put together by David Dew.

ANDREW SCUTTS, BLOODSTOCK MANAGING EDITOR

CONTENTS 2-5 Martin Stevens on the sires who starred at Cheltenham, plus interview with Pascal Noue of Haras de la Hetraie 6-7 Richard Rohan of Ballytrasna Stud speaks to James Thomas 8 Roll of honour 9 Philippe Decouz interview 10-11 James Thomas chats to Harold Kirk, plus festival results

Blue Bresil

2005 b Smadoun-Miss Recif (Exit To Nowhere) Stands at Glenview Stud It seems safe to assume Blue Bresil will be one of the most in-demand members of the Irish stallion ranks this year, after his highly exciting son Constitution Hill recorded a 22-length success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Constitution Hill was not the only good advert for the Glenview Stud resident at the meeting, either. Blue Lord ran a cracker to finish third in the Arkle and Royal Pagaille was a solid fifth in the Gold Cup. The sire’s only two other representatives at Cheltenham last week, Madmansgame and Redemption Day, had no answer to Facile Vega in the Champion Bumper but they were unbeaten going into the race and will surely enjoy more days in the sun in the future.

Blue Bresil offers something a little different to breeders in terms of pedigree and form profile, and perhaps because of that he had to make his name the hard way.

He is by Smadoun, a Listedwinning son of Kaldoun best known as the source of dual Flat Group 1 winner Chichicastenango and highclass jumpers Nacarat and Smad Place, out of a winning Exit To Nowhere mare.

He failed to win a black-type race but holds the unusual distinction of finishing placed at Group/Grade 2 level both on the Flat and over jumps, running second in the Prix Amadou over hurdles at Auteuil and taking third in the Prix Noailles and Prix Hocquart over middle distances at Longchamp.

Blue Bresil was initially retired to Haras de la Croix Sonnet – also the former home of the now Irish-based Diamond Boy, the sire of Brown Advisory winner L’Homme Presse – and his small first crop of 31 foals born in 2011 included the classy exports Ibis Du Rheu, Le Prezien and Mick Jazz.

His second crop of 42 foals yielded a handful of smart domestic performers such as Ci Blue, Max Do Brazil, Saint Goustan Blue and Yosille, and his third generation numbering 43 produced a few more who shone in France, including Futbolisto, Garasil and Miss Salsa Blue, as well as several who excelled on these shores, chiefly Blue Flight and Mont Des Avaloirs.

Blue Bresil’s 44 eight-yearolds include Royal Pagaille, who has developed into a fine staying chaser for Venetia Williams, and his 62 sevenyear-olds are highlighted by the consistent Blue Lord and the wondermare L’Autonomie, a 15-time black-type hurdle winner in France.

The stallion was purchased to stand at Yorton Farm in Powys for the 2016 season, meaning he has a final Frenchconceived crop comprising 60

Martin Stevens looks at the stallions whose

Six who Nico de Boinville cannot hide his delight after Constitution Hill’s imperious victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

six-year-olds, which includes Navan Listed hurdle winner Brampton Belle.

That deal to bring Blue Bresil to Britain is looking inspired, as his 2017 crop contains not only Constitution Hill, Madmansgame and Redemption Day but also this season’s impressive bumper winners Kracka Nut and Pembroke, plus the smart mare Puffin Bay. He covered mares at Yorton Farm for four seasons until 2020, when he was purchased to stand at Glenview Stud.

Based on the early evidence from his first non-French crops, Britain’s loss looks like being Ireland’s gain.

Doyen

2000 b Sadler’s Wells-Moon Cactus (Kris) Stands at Sunnyhill Stud It’s too early to sound the

death knell for the era of Sadler’s Wells sons standing at stud, as there are still more than 20 spread across Europe, but with the Coolmore great having been retired from covering duty 14 years ago it must soon be at least the beginning of the end.

So breeders would be well advised to savour those sons of Sadler’s Wells available to them while they can.

Those still covering include Yeats, who has supplied five Cheltenham Festival winners in the past two seasons in Flooring Porter twice, Chantry House, Heaven Help Us and Mount Ida, and fellow Coolmore National Hunt sire Milan, who was on the mark last week with Mares’ Hurdle winner Marie’s Rock.

There is also Glenview Studbased Sholokhov, the sire of fortunate but undoubtedly

first-class Turners Novices’ Chase scorer Bob Olinger, and Kedrah House Stud’s Well Chosen, whose son Billaway pulled off a thrilling last-gasp victory in the Hunters’ Chase.

Another in the ribbons at Cheltenham was Doyen, who took the place of one of the very best Sadler’s Wells jumps stallion sons at Sunnyhill Stud: Old Vic, a festival sire par excellence who gave us the likes of Kicking King, Our Vic, Spring Heeled, Sunnyhillboy and more.

Doyen’s seven-strong squadron at Prestbury Park last week included Banbridge, who looks destined for even bigger things after battling to victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, and Andy Dufresne, who found only Global Citizen too good in the Grand Annual.

A good week for the sire was

sealed last Saturday when his progressive son Press Your Luck took a valuable handicap hurdle at Kempton.

Doyen is enjoying a fine season generally, with Beacon Edge winning the Drinmore Novice Chase, Ballyshannon Rose getting up in a Grade 2 mares’ novice chase at Thurles and Battleoverdoyen scoring at the Galway festival and running second in Grade 1 company.

Furthermore, Undersupervision looked a name to note when winning the Grimthorpe Chase in good style and, to cap it all, The Mean Queen has won three Grade 1 hurdle events in the US. Doyen stands at Sunnyhill Stud alongside German Derby hero Lucky Speed and newcomer Fifty Stars, a Group 1-winning son of Sea The Stars.

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Racing Post Friday, March 25, 2022

progeny hit the headlines at jump racing’s Olympic Games

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BANBRIDG

THE NICE GUY

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ER OF FLEE

COMMAND

ELIMAY Fifty Stars received something of a preCheltenham boost when his half-brother Whiskey Sour, a previous winner of the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, returned to form with a 15-length victory back at the track at the start of the month.

Fame And Glory

2006 b Montjeu-Gryada (Shirley Heights) Stood at Grange Stud Fame And Glory had been represented by just one or two Flat runners and none in the jumps sphere when he died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 11, but it wasn’t hard to predict that his early death would be a tragedy for National Hunt breeders.

He was, after all, supremely well bred as a Montjeu brother to the dam of 1,000 Guineas

heroine Legatissimo from an excellent German family, and he had lived up to those genes by winning the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Irish Derby, Coronation Cup, Tattersalls Gold Cup and Gold Cup in his racecourse pomp.

Fame And Glory’s four large crops of progeny, aged between five and eight, have duly given plenty of cause to regret his absence from the Coolmore National Hunt roster.

His 12-strong delegation to this year’s Cheltenham Festival included Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner The Nice Guy and Coral Cup scorer Commander Of Fleet, while neither Glory And Fortune nor Home By The Lee were beaten far when fifth in the Champion Hurdle and sixth in the Stayers’ Hurdle respectively.

It’s fair to say that Fame And Glory never lacked numbers, having always covered large books, but he did at least make the most of his chances.

Commander Of Fleet is one of 14 black-type horses and 49 winners among his 150 eightyear-olds, while Glory And Fortune, Home By The Lee and The Nice Guy are the pick of the 12 black-type horses and 51 winners from his 181-strong seven-year-old crop.

Fame And Glory’s 250 sixyear-olds (yes, you read correctly – breeders must have been really impressed with his early stock) include 11 blacktype horses and 64 winners, led by Challow Novices’ Hurdle scorer Stage Star, pulled up at Cheltenham last week after running too freely.

The sire’s 186 five-year-olds already include three blacktype performers and 17 winners in total, while neither of the two members of his final ‘crop’ of four-year-olds conceived before his death in February 2017 have run yet.

Fame And Glory’s week at Cheltenham was bookended by victories for the brothers Highland Charge and Hunters Yarn in the Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle and a warm-looking bumper at Naas on the preceding Sunday and success for Sebastopol in a competitive handicap chase at Kempton on the following Saturday.

Consequently, in the last fortnight he and Yeats – on the mark at the festival with repeat Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter – have fought out a

ding-dong battle at the top of the National Hunt sire standings. Yeats currently has the lead, but only by a margin of around £10,000.

Fame And Glory was surely irreplaceable, but if his exploits have encouraged breeders to use another son of Montjeu there is at least plenty of choice: the likes of Jukebox Jury, Ol’ Man River, Papal Bull, Scorpion and Walk In The Park in Ireland, Leading Light and Walzertakt in Britain, and Honolulu, Joshua Tree, Masked Marvel, Montmartre, Motivator and Pour Moi in France.

Irish breeders also have access to three paternal grandsons of Montjeu, each by different Derby-winning sons of his: Hunting Horn by Camelot, Santiago by Authorized and Wings Of Eagles by Pour Moi. Montjeu’s influence in the National Hunt sphere was also showcased at Cheltenham last week by Walk In The Park’s son Facile Vega running away with the Champion Bumper and Montmartre’s daughter Elimay toughing out victory in the Mares’ Chase.

Jeremy

2003 b Danehill Dancer-Glint In Her Eye (Arazi) Stood at the Irish National Stud and Garryrichard Stud If someone had told you a decade ago that Jeremy was going to become one of the most celebrated National Hunt sires of the new millennium, you would have been justified in wondering what they had been drinking.

It’s not that he was a poor horse – far from it – but he was by the sharp and speedy Danehill Dancer and he had excelled over seven furlongs to a mile in his own racing career.

He was also then standing as a Flat stallion at a fee of €6,000 at the Irish National Stud, with his first crop having recently turned three.

However, Jeremy also happened to boast a strong maternal line – his dam being an Arazi half-sister to the legendary Deep Impact, no less – and it became apparent early on that his progeny were tailor-made for jumping.

His first crop included Our Conor, who recorded a dazzling 15-length victory in the Triumph Hurdle of 2013, and Stocktons Wing, who had finished second to Our Conor

in the Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle and later claimed the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle for himself.

Those results prompted Jeremy’s syndicate of owners to transfer him to Garryrichard Stud for the 2013 season. His new home certainly had a fine heritage of standing top jumps sires, as shown by Arctic Slave, Callernish and Over The River.

The emergence of Grade 1-winning hurdlers Jer’s Girl and Whiskey Sour, plus the smart dual-purpose performer Who Dares Wins, from the sire’s Irish National Studconceived output further caught the impression of National Hunt breeders.

Jeremy duly covered 246 mares in 2013 and another 211 in 2014, before disaster struck

and he had to be put down following complications from surgery necessitated by breaking bones in his carpal joint during exercise.

Those two purely jumpsbred crops contained a quite remarkable strength in depth and have taken the racing world by storm.

The older cohort, aged eight, comprised 175 foals and includes no fewer than 17 black-type winners and another five black-type performers.

Among the best of the bunch are Appreciate It and Black Tears, two of Jeremy’s four winners at Cheltenham last season, and Corach Rambler, who gave the sire the first leg of a double at this year’s festival when he scored in the

Ultima Handicap Chase.

Jeremy’s final crop of 156 seven-year-olds contains four black-type winners and seven black type-placed horses. Top of the class are Belfast Banter and Sir Gerhard, the other half of the sire’s 2021 festival fourtimer, with Sir Gerhard making it back-to-back wins with a decisive victory in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Jeremy’s eight-year-old daughter Scarlet And Dove finished third in the Mares’ Chase, the penultimate race of the meeting, to nudge the stallion ahead of Fame And Glory at the top of this year’s festival sire standings.

Jeremy’s surprise success has had stallion masters scrambling to find sons of his Continues page 4

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Friday, March 25, 2022 racingpost.com

BLOODSTOCK SPECIAL CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL REVIEW From page 3

to stand at stud. Consequently, the Group 2 winner and Group 1 third Success Days has been in service at Kilbarry Lodge Stud since 2020, and the highclass two-year-old Kool Kompany has been switched from his long-term Spanish home to Clongiffen Stud this season.

No Risk At All

2007 ch My Risk-Newness (Simply Great) Stands at Haras de Montaigu Jeremy’s pedigree might have given few clues to his future prowess as a jumps sire, but that was certainly never the case for No Risk At All. The dual Group 3 winner is

by My Risk, best known as the source of Champion Chase hero Sire De Grugy, and is out of Sylvia Wildenstein’s influential broodmare Newness, a 1988-foaled daughter of Simply Great.

Newness was a top-class hurdler and chaser herself, before also excelling in her second career by producing nine winners – no fewer than eight of them in possession of black type.

They were headed by Nickname, a Grade 1-winning hurdler at Auteuil and later a brilliant chaser for Martin Brassil. The son of Lost World

Sir Gerhard recorded backto-back festival victories when landing the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle; (above) Corach Rambler was another feather in the cap for Jeremy

sired just three crops in a regrettably short spell as a stallion, but they yielded the likes of Cyrname, Frodon, Le Mercurey and Yala Enki.

Nickname and No Risk At All’s siblings Narkis, N’Avoue Jamais, Nom De D’La and Nom D’Une Pipe all scored in black-type jumps contests too,

with N’Avoue Jamais going on to produce a pair of stakes scorers on the Flat – Nickelle and Nid D’Amour – and one over jumps, in N’Oublie Jamais.

As if all that weren’t enough, the outstanding chasers Docteur De Ballon and Politologue are descended

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from Nile Palace, a half-sister to Newness.

So, clearly No Risk At All is only following family tradition by making such a deep impact in National Hunt racing.

The Haras de Montaigubased stallion fielded only four runners at the Cheltenham Festival last week but they included Allaho, who delivered a virtuoso performance to win the Ryanair Chase for the second year in a row, and Epatante, who achieved her third consecutive top-three finish in the Champion Hurdle by running an honourable second to Honeysuckle.

Allaho and Epatante hail from No Risk At All’s introductory crop of 86 eightyear-olds, along with Henry VIII Novices’ Chase victor Esprit Du Large, Ascot Listed hurdle winner Gumball and French Graded scorers Ajas, Highway To Hell and Royale Maria Has. The sire has numerous exciting young talents in Britain and Ireland to look forward to, including last month’s Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle winner Aucunrisque, this season’s Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle scorer Allegorie De Vassy, progressive hurdler Good Risk At All and useful up-and-coming chaser Cayd Boy. He has also been a rich source of big-money horses in training purchases, such as Papa Tango Charly (£440,000) and Keskonrisk (£370,000), and so it is no surprise that his books have been quick to fill up in recent seasons.

Saint Des Saints

1998 b Cadoudal-Chamisene (Pharly) Stands at Haras d’Etreham Saint Des Saints must have one of the most fruitful yet frustrating track records at the Cheltenham Festival in recent years.

For the third meeting in a row he didn’t quite manage to put a winner on the board but was represented by multiple place-getters.

Saint Des Saints posted three runners-up in 2020 in Lord Du Mesnil (National Hunt Chase), Saint Calvados (Ryanair Chase) and Dolcita (Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle), and two thirds in Elfile (Mares’ Hurdle) and Saint D’Oroux (Fred Winter).

Twelve months later the sire delivered another three runners-up – Fusil Raffles (Marsh Novices’ Chase), Gaillard Du Mesnil (Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle) and Saint Sam (Fred Winter) – and one third-place finisher, in Haut En Couleurs (Triumph Hurdle).

This year the ever-reliable Saint Des Saints’ festival record stood at a short-head second courtesy of Fastorslow (Coral Cup) and a pair of Grade 1 thirds thanks to Gaillard Du Mesnil (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase) and Protektorat (Gold Cup).

Saint Des Saints’ impact goes deeper than that, though, as he is also the damsire of brilliant brothers Douvan and Jonbon – the latter last week finishing second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle,

‘Breeders might consider themselves fortunate that Saint Des Saints is still in service at Haras d’Etreham at the age of 24, although they quite rightly have to stump up a hefty €15,000 fee to gain access to his court’

seven years after the former won the race – and dual festival hero Envoi Allen, who ran a big race in this year’s Champion Chase before fading into third.

Saint Des Saints was always entitled to excel as a jumps stallion. He is by Cadoudal, sire of festival legends Big Buck’s and Long Run, out of Prix de Malleret winner Chamisene, and he was a multiple Graded-winning hurdler at Auteuil for Guillaume Macaire in his heyday.

He has still exceeded all expectations for his second career, though, by producing a long roll of honour of top-class progeny that includes, to name just a few in addition to those already mentioned, Djakadam, Lyreen Legend, Magic Saint, Quel Esprit, Quito De La Roque, Storm Of Saintly and Whetstone.

Breeders might consider themselves fortunate that Saint Des Saints is still in service at Haras d’Etreham at the age of 24, although they quite rightly have to stump up a hefty €15,000 fee to gain access to his court.

Naturally, he hasn’t covered huge numbers in recent years, and he received 57 mares last year, 78 in 2020, the same amount in 2019 and 95 in 2018.

Thanks to French owners’ custom of leaving jumps runners uncut, there are several sons of Saint Des Saints available to use as stallions, including Castle Du Berlais, Goliath Du Berlais, Jeu St Eloi and Magic Dream across the Channel.

The Irish stallion ranks also gained their first son of Saint Des Saints this year with the import of Saintgodrel, a placed performer out of Grade 1-placed hurdler Loumie, to stand at Annshoon Stud in County Kilkenny.

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Racing Post Friday, March 25, 2022

Martin Stevens finds out about Kapgarde – sire of last week’s Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard

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F ANY stallion was going to supply a phenomenal 15-length winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, one who posted the best Racing Post Rating in the race since Kauto Star to boot, there was always a good chance it would be Kapgarde.

The veteran sire of last week’s festival hero A Plus Tard has long been renowned as a fine source of chasers – look no further than dual King George VI Chase hero Clan Des Obeaux, fellow multiple Grade 1 winner Fakir D’Oudairies and French superstar Milord Thomas for compelling proof.

Kapgarde was born in the last millennium, did his racing in the early noughties – including winning a Grade 3 hurdle and finishing a neck second in a Grade 1 chase at Auteuil – and retired to his original home of Haras de Mortrée, then owned by his breeder Charlotte Thoreau, in 2005.

And yet, thank goodness, he is still in service at Haras de la Hêtraie this season at the advanced age of 23.

Pascal Noue knows the horse better than anyone, having managed him in both of the stallion bases in which he has plied his trade.

“I studied at agricultural school and started my career at the National Research Institute with Eric Palmer, developing ultrasound scanning and AI in the French National Studs in 1985,” he explains.

“I later worked at a big trotting stud for six years, and then from 2000 to 2007 I served as the director of Haras de Mortrée, where the great Cadoudal stood.

“When the boss retired and sold the stud, I was able to keep the stallions, mares and clients. I just had to find a good place to keep the horses, but the key thing was that the stallion band at that time contained the young prospects Kapgarde, Great Pretender and Malinas.

“I eventually found La Hêtraie, a milking farm with 60 cows alongside the forest near Bayeux in Normandy, and bought it in 2007.”

The stud’s star resident Kapgarde is by Garde Royale, a Group 2-winning son of Mill Reef who sired a host of topclass jumpers including Garde Champetre, Nicanor and Royal Auclair, and is out of the winning Cadoudal mare Kaprika, making him a halfbrother to Grade 1-winning hurdler Geos.

It pays high tribute to his choice bloodlines and impressive looks that he was sold as a yearling to as renowned a connoisseur of

‘He likes to be the boss. You can work with him easily, but when he says ‘no’ you have to stop there and then. He tends to stamp his stock, and his progeny take after him’ jumps stock as Guillaume Macaire, along with his associates.

Describing his estimable equine companion of the last 17 years, Noue says: “Kapgarde is a bay with no white, standing 1m 70cm tall, and is very strong with plenty of bone. He’s also a good mover – well, maybe not so much nowadays because of osteoarthritis, but we manage that carefully.

“He has a good temperament too, although he definitely likes to be the boss.

You can work with him easily, but when he says ‘no’ you have to stop right there and then.

He tends to stamp his stock, and his progeny take after him.”

Noue reports that Kapgarde, who is owned by a small syndicate of just four people, has “excellent fertility” but that his book is limited to 70 to 80 mares each year because of his osteoarthritis issues.

“As of now, eight of the ten first mares he’s covered this season are in foal,” he adds with pride. “He’s been managed by the same stallion woman, Edwige Barbier, for 12 years and she is very attentive and loving towards him. They know each other very well by now, and when the end of his covering days eventually comes, she will know so by instinct.”

Kapgarde was not the only Haras de la Hêtraie stallion to put a winner on the board at the Cheltenham Festival last week, as his colleague Gris De Gris, a Group 2-winning son of Slickly, struck with his only runner at the meeting – Chambard in the Fulke

Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup. The 18-year-old grey is held in high regard, having also sired French black typewinning jumpers Cabriole Mag and Padron, and the useful British imports Demi Sang and Houx Gris.

“Gris De Gris is a very sweet horse and we’re seeing a lot of winners by him in both Flat and jumps races,” says Noue.

“He’s transmitting Linamix blood, which is giving his progeny a lot of speed.”

Great Pretender, like Kapgarde, a stalwart of the Haras de la Hêtraie roster, has endeared himself to British and Irish connections as a rare stallion son of multiple champion sire King’s Theatre and by supplying top-notchers such as Benie Des Dieux, Dortmund Park, Greaneteen, Great Field and Ptit Zig. “He’s produced the same number of Grade 1 winners as Kapgarde but he’s not held in such high regard by French breeders as his main successes have come abroad,” says Noue.

“He’s also 23, and also regularly figures in the top ten French sires. I’ve always had good results with him, and he’s one of my personal favourites.”

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OUE nominates Bathyrhon, a Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed son of Monsun bought in conjunction with bloodstock agent Richard Venn, as “possibly the next Great Pretender”.

Bathyrhon’s first crop are five-year-olds and his early

representatives include smart domestic performers Bathyscaphe, Hopi Du Mathan and Igloo D’Estruval, as well as Dan Skelton’s dual winner Frere D’Armes.

“He was the leading French second-season sire with his first two generations of runners last year,” says Noue.

“So, unsurprisingly, he’s in strong demand and will cover around 170 mares this year.”

Born To Sea is an interesting new recruit to Haras de la Hêtraie this year, as the Invincible Spirit half-brother to Galileo and Sea The Stars is firing in loads of National Hunt winners from his crops conceived at Flat studs in Ireland – including Graded winners Aspire Tower, A Wave Of The Sea, My Mate Mozzie and Poseidon, as well as smart handicapper Cormier, a fair seventh in the County Hurdle last week.

Similarly, German Derby and Prix Ganay winner Pastorius, who joined the stud in 2018, is being represented by some useful sorts over obstacles from his first four crops bred at Gestüt Fährhof, such as Willie Mullins’ dual winner Arctic Warrior, Gabriel Leenders’ Compiegne Listed chase scorer Campinas and Daniela Mele’s useful hurdler and chaser Poulorius.

“Born To Sea and Pastorius have made a smooth

transition to their new roles as jumps sires, having already produced some good results with progeny of mares who weren’t covered for this discipline,” points out Noue.

Haras de la Hêtraie is also home to two stallions whose oldest crops are yearlings, both of whom are sons of highly prized sires: Nirvana Du Berlais, a winner of the prestigious Prix Cambaceres

by Martaline, and Roman Candle, a Prix Greffulhe scorer and close Grand Prix de Paris fourth by the late Le Havre, another bought with the assistance of Venn.

“Nirvana Du Berlais is making all the headlines here in France,” exclaims Noue.

“His first yearlings are all scopey and very athletic. It wouldn’t surprise me if he were to turn out to be the next Kapgarde. He has 170 mares booked into him again this season.”

On the subject of Roman Candle he adds: “He’s a good bet as a jumps sire as he’s a son of the wonderful Le Havre, but he was also a winner at two and a Group 2 winner at three, and he’s a big, strong individual. French National Hunt breeders who are looking for speed and Flat qualities for their mares would have to consider him, I think.”

The expansive Haras de la Hêtraie roster is completed by Grade 1-winning hurdler For Fun, a Motivator half-brother to Fuisse and Full Of Gold, who were both successful at the highest level on the Flat and have sired their fair share of jumps winners. For Fun covered his first Still going strong: Kapgarde is 23 but still thriving under the care of Edwige Barbier and Pascal Noue (inset)

mares last year.

“He’s probably a sire to follow,” reasons Noue. “The early foals by him I’ve seen are all bay and resemble that Motivator/Montjeu line. He was a very talented and consistent horse, running 15 times over fences and finishing in the first four on 13 occasions, and winning a Grade 1 at four and running third to Nirvana Du Berlais in the Cambaceres at three.”

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T WAS a productive Cheltenham for Haras de la Hêtraie this year, but also for French-breds generally once again, with Allaho, Delta Work, Elimay, Energumene, L’Homme Presse and Vauban among A Plus Tard’s compatriots who joined him on the meeting’s roll of honour.

Noue strikes a cautious note when asked what he thinks the secrets of the French-breds’ success is.

“I’d say Britain and Ireland also have good stallions, and from a French point of view I think there are plenty who would also have a good amount of success here,” he remarks. “The grass is not always greener!

“But French breeders have been careful to select stallions and mares to produce horses who can compete in races early in their three-year-old season. For example, the first three-year-old race here took place three weeks ago at Compiegne and it had 13 runners, ten of whom were still days or weeks away from their actual third birthdays.

“As far as I know, this hasn’t been the case in Britain or Ireland. So the interval between producing horses and seeing them race is shorter in France, which is a plus point for any scheme of selective breeding, from cows to rabbits!

On the other hand, horses incurring physical issues is probably more of a frequent occurrence here. That’s one drawback.”

Whether booking nominations to one of Haras de la Hêtraie’s exceptional older stallions such as Kapgarde, arranging a deal for one of the stud’s promising upand-comers who might eventually fill the great horse’s shoes, or finding out more fascinating insights into the French breeding scene – Pascal Noue is the man to talk to.

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Friday, March 25, 2022 racingpost.com

BLOODSTOCK SPECIAL CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL REVIEW Richard Rohan of Ballytrasna Stud speaks to James Thomas about his success, including the purchase of Flooring Porter for just €6,000

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IG money may not guarantee you a Cheltenham Festival winner, but it certainly helps.

Recent times have seen a whole host of expensively bought performers, many of whom have been through the point-to-point filtering process, come to the fore during the four biggest days in jump racing, with Constitution Hill, Elimay, Global Citizen and Sir Gerhard this year’s notable examples.

But results at Cheltenham also highlighted the skill of someone who has unearthed some serious talent at the most embryonic stage, and has done so without having spent a small fortune.

A renowned judge of horseflesh, Richard Rohan of Ballytrasna Stud in County Cork has been pinhooking National Hunt foals for close to 40 years, and in that time has amassed a record that would be the envy of just about every bloodstock agent in the business. His latest flagbearer is Flooring Porter, who landed a second Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle under a vintage Danny Mullins ride.

This year’s result was a particularly satisfying outcome for Rohan, as not only did he buy Flooring Porter but he also pinhooked Paisley Park, winner of the race in 2019 and a valiant third this time around.

While this high-class pair have long since proved their merit on the racecourse, Rohan gave only a modest sum for both, with Flooring Porter bought for a mere €6,000 and Paisley Park picked up for just €12,500.

“It was fantastic,” says Rohan as he reflects on the Stayers’ Hurdle. “When Flooring Porter was at the top of the hill you began to wonder whether they were going to pass him, but thankfully they didn’t. Then to see Paisley Park coming from nowhere to finish very close up in third was just great.”

While Flooring Porter has justified Rohan’s faith with three Grade 1s victories, he does not go down as one of his most successful pinhooks in pure commercial terms.

The son of Yeats was selected from the Goffs December National Hunt Sale in 2015, when he was offered by breeder Sean Murphy, an

‘Flooring Porter backed up my judgement, even though the marketplace didn’t want him’

Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association council member who operates out of Ryehill Stables in County Galway. But when Rohan reoffered Flooring Porter through Ballincurrig House Stud at the Goffs Land Rover Sale three years later, the horse was led out unsold at just €5,500 after potential purchasers struck him off their lists for lacking size.

Recalling the young Flooring Porter, Rohan says: “He was never big but he was a real nice model. Once I’d got him home he quickly identified himself as a leader of the herd and the whole way through his rearing process he was always at the head of the pack. He always had a terrific attitude and was a real little terrier, which he is on the racecourse.

He was always his own man but he was always hardy.”

With the benefit of hindsight, that Land Rover Sale disappointment could have been the best thing to happen to Flooring Porter, as that prompted Rohan to offer the horse to Gavin Cromwell, who has done an expert job in coaxing out every ounce of natural talent the son of Yeats possesses.

It is also thanks to Cromwell that Ned Hogarty, father and son Tommy and Alan Sweeney, and Kerril Creaven came to own the horse after they responded to a post on the trainer’s Facebook page.

“I met Gavin Cromwell after the sales and said I had a very nice horse who I thought could be a racehorse and asked if he wanted him,” says Rohan.

“Gavin had him for a while and loved him and put him up on Facebook, and that’s how the lads from Galway came up and bought him. The rest is history, as they say!”

While it would be easy to imagine a sense of frustration at not being able to reap the financial benefits from selling a horse with Flooring Porter’s talent, Rohan remains philosophical about the cut and thrust of pinhooking National Hunt foals.

“I just enjoy the fact he’s a very good horse,” he says.

“When you’re pinhooking you’ll always have winners and losers. Some of the cheap horses turn out to be the good horses and some of the dear horses turn out to be disappointing.

“I buy my 20 foals each year and you just hope that one or two will come to the top. It can often be one or two of the lesser lights who make the big profit, and the ones that you’ve given a lot of money for as foals don’t turn out to be what the market wants at three.”

Remarkably Flooring Porter is the eighth festival winner that Rohan has sold, and even

‘He always had a terrific attitude and was a real terrier, which he is on the racecourse’

more remarkable still is the fact that the €6,000 buy is actually one of the more expensive horses he has had who went on to strike at Cheltenham.

Rohan has two Cheltenham Gold Cup winners on his roll of honour and the pair cost a combined – and scarcely believable – £4,900. First came Looks Like Trouble, who saw off Florida Pearl to give Noel Chance and Richard Johnson a memorable victory in 2000.

The son of Zaffaran was bought from breeder Stephen Reel for just £2,900 in 1996.

In 2006 War Of Attrition claimed the blue riband of National Hunt racing for Mouse Morris and Gigginstown House Stud after Rohan had sourced the son of Presenting as a foal for a mere £2,000 in 1999. He was resold to Ger Hourigan for €15,000 three years later.

Moreover, Rohan’s fingerprints can also be found on the likes of Champion Chase hero Remittance Man, Challow and Pertemps Final

winner Fingal Bay (a €16,000 foal) and William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase scorer Chief Dan George (a £12,000 foal).

Despite having so many high-achieving names to choose from, Rohan says that Flooring Porter and Paisley Park have given him the biggest kick, not only because of their success on the track but the story of their sales too.

“Flooring Porter backed up my judgement that I thought he was a good horse, even though the marketplace didn’t want him, and Paisley Park was the opposite, he left me a big profit and went on to do what he was supposed to do,” he says.

W

HILE Rohan clearly has a knack for identifying an innate quality in foals who are sometimes as young as six months old, those hoping he will reveal the secret of how he does it will be disappointed to learn there isn’t one. However,

he does offer an insight into what he looks for at the sales, and explains that attitude, conformation and sire power are things he prioritises above all else.

“Invariably I buy a lot of my horses fairly cheap as I try to buy under the radar where I can,” he says. “I like buying horses by a good stallion and I wouldn’t worry if he had gone out of fashion, because I know once his stock get to the racecourse they’ll prove themselves.

“I just go for a nice model who looks to be an athlete, but I won’t buy a horse unless he’s a good mover with a good front leg. A good mover with a good front leg will stand the rigours of training, so you have a chance, but buying a horse with a bad front leg is like buying a car without any shock absorbers - they won’t last.

“Then you want a bit of size and scope and a horse who looks to have a good attitude.

When you look at the good horses, they take the sales in their stride. They have this

attitude and this presence about them and they stand up and say, ‘Look at me’.”

While Rohan’s judgement is underpinned by years of experience, he says it usually takes only a matter of seconds to make up his mind about a horse, although he concedes that spending such significant sums of money based on little more than instinct may seem high risk to those not attuned to the ways of the bloodstock world.

“I’ll usually have my mind made up in five seconds of looking at a foal whether he’s for me or not,” he says. “He’ll either do it for me straight away or he won’t. It’s only a snapshot you get of them, and to think you can be going in there and spending fifty or a hundred thousand on a foal when you’ve basically had only ten seconds of looking at them, it’s crazy really.

“If you were buying a house you’d have architects out and engineers’ reports, but we don’t even have a veterinary report on a foal. We just go in

7

Racing Post Friday, March 25, 2022

Success Boxes now prominent online

16m views on Online Results each month Danny Mullins celebrates after riding Flooring Porter to victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Along with the winner, runner-up Paisley Park (above) was sourced by Richard Rohan

‘I like buying horses by a good stallion and I wouldn’t worry if he had gone out of fashion, because I know once his stock get to the racecourse they’ll prove themselves’ there, buy them based on what we see and take our chances.”

Rohan hails from a farming family and says he entered into the pinhooking world having dabbled in other equine pursuits during his earlier years. He is also helping to pass the baton on to the next generation, as his daughter Sarah is now an integral part of the business.

“All my family back along were involved in horses and farming so I progressed into the business naturally through that route,” he says. “I came up through the hunting and showjumping ranks and I’d have been 17 or 18 when I bought my first foals. I’m 56 now so I’ve been at it a good while. I came home from agricultural college and have worked at the home farm since.”

Years of experience have

plainly taught Rohan plenty about the make and mark of a good horse, although there is always a balance between nature and nurture, and he stresses the upbringing the residents of Ballytrasna Stud receive is a crucial part of their development.

“I think it’s very important that the horses spend as much time out in the field as they possibly can,” he says. “I don’t believe in locking them up in sheds and stables unless they really have to be.

“I find that if horses are allowed to run naturally and develop and grow, it definitely stands to them later in life.

There’s an awful lot to be said for the way they’re reared.”

Rohan, who sells his foals through brother-in-law Michael Moore’s Ballincurrig House Stud, says there is one other important link in the

chain when it comes to producing top-class horses, and that is the conditioning and sales preparation that each undergoes before their date with the auctioneer.

He credits his late wife, Josie, who tragically passed away in March 2011, with instilling the methods, principles and high standards that established Ballincurrig House Stud as a leader in the field of sales consignment.

“Josie took the whole sales prep to a new level,” he says.

“She was responsible for consigning horses like Captain Chris and Sizing John, so she sold some top horses. She was a fantastic producer of horses and completely dedicated. She hadn’t much interest in the dealing side of the business, but in the turnout and the sales preparation she taught us all plenty of lessons.”

Small cost Long Term Impact

Celebrate every winner with a Success Box seen by millions To advertise contact +44 (0)203 0348905 bloodstock@racingpost.com www.racingpost.com/bloodstock

CHELTENHAMFriday, FESTIVAL OF HONOUR 3 MarchROLL 25, 2022 racingpost.com

8Racing Post Friday, March 25, 2022

BLOODSTOCK SPECIAL CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL REVIEW LEADING SIRES £ W & Pl Kapgarde (FR) ............................352,469 A Plus Tard (FR) (1) Hors Piste (FR) (8) Il Ridoto (FR) (8)

No Risk At All (FR) .....................306,825 Allaho (FR) (1) Epatante (FR) (2)

Sulamani (IRE) ...........................253,215 Honeysuckle (1)

Denham Red (FR) .......................226,672 Energumene (FR) (1)

Yeats (IRE) .................................205,074 Flooring Porter (IRE) (1) Cobblers Dream (IRE) (2) Heaven Help Us (IRE) (6) Ilikedwayurthinkin (IRE) (6) Mount Ida (IRE) (7) Party Central (IRE) (7)

Kayf Tara ...................................171,789 Edwardstone (1) Thyme Hill (2) Nada To Prada (8)

Jeremy (USA) .............................162,919 Corach Rambler (IRE) (1) Sir Gerhard (IRE) (1) Scarlet And Dove (IRE) (3) Appreciate It (IRE) (7) The Glancing Queen (IRE) (7)

Fame And Glory .........................155,067 Commander Of Fleet (IRE) (1) The Nice Guy (IRE) (1) Ballyadam (IRE) (5) Glory And Fortune (IRE) (5) Home By The Lee (IRE) (6) Embittered (IRE) (7) Coeur Serein (IRE) (8)

Beat Hollow ................................147,455 Minella Indo (IRE) (2) Hollow Games (IRE) (3) Not So Sleepy (6)

Blue Bresil (FR) ..........................112,542 Constitution Hill (1) Blue Lord (FR) (3) Royale Pagaille (FR) (5)

Saint Des Saints (FR) .................108,587 Fastorslow (FR) (2) Gaillard Du Mesnil (FR) (3) Protektorat (FR) (3) Haut En Couleurs (FR) (6)

Stowaway ...................................108,092 Stattler (IRE) (1) Kilcruit (IRE) (3) Mighty Stowaway (IRE) (3) Ballygrifincottage (IRE) (4) Tea Clipper (IRE) (4) Put The Kettle On (IRE) (5)

Sholokhov (IRE) .........................103,359 Bob Olinger (IRE) (1) Porticello (FR) (6)

Diamond Boy (FR) ........................98,557 L’Homme Presse (FR) (1)

Montmartre (FR) ..........................94,082 Elimay (FR) (1) Gericault Roque (FR) (2)

Doctor Dino (FR) ..........................90,455 State Man (FR) (1) Fil Dor (FR) (2) Nurse Susan (FR) (4)

Noroit (GER) .................................86,392 Funambule Sivola (FR) (2)

Walk In The Park (IRE) .................84,874 Facile Vega (IRE) (1) Jonbon (FR) (2) Seabank Bistro (IRE) (4) Hemlock (5) Koshari (FR) (7)

Shirocco (GER) ............................81,710 Third Wind (1) Queens Brook (IRE) (2)

Indian Daffodil (IRE) .....................79,912 Janidil (FR) (2)

Galiway ........................................75,964 Vauban (FR) (1)

Milan ............................................73,465 Marie’s Rock (IRE) (1) Senor Lombardy (IRE) (5) If The Cap Fits (IRE) (6) Scarface (IRE) (7) Santini (8)

Dubai Destination (USA) ..............70,579 Coole Cody (IRE) (1) Dubai Quest (IRE) (4)

Alkaadhem ...................................70,337 Global Citizen (IRE) (1)

Doyen (IRE) ..................................68,146 Banbridge (IRE) (1) Andy Dufresne (IRE) (2) Pont Aven (IRE) (6) Beacon Edge (IRE) (7) Magic Daze (IRE) (8)

Shantou (USA) .............................64,706 Run Wild Fred (IRE) (2) Ashdale Bob (IRE) (3) James’s Gate (IRE) (3) Party Business (IRE) (5) Death Duty (IRE) (6) Impervious (IRE) (6) Ramillies (IRE) (6) Shan Blue (IRE) (6) Threeunderthrufive (IRE) (6)

Westerner ....................................62,408 Love Envoi (IRE) (1) Amarillo Sky (IRE) (5)

Flemensfirth (USA) ......................57,229 Minella Cocooner (IRE) (2)

Mrs Milner (IRE) (3) Beatthebullet (IRE) (4) Dusart (IRE) (5) Gowel Road (IRE) (7) Lostintranslation (IRE) (8) Royal Kahala (IRE) (8)

Authorized (IRE) ...........................55,205 Mister Coffey (FR) (2) Tiger Roll (IRE) (2) I Am Maximus (FR) (4) Authorised Speed (FR) (5) Echoes In Rain (FR) (5) Green Book (FR) (5) Maze Runner (IRE) (5)

Nathaniel (IRE) .............................53,788 Zanahiyr (IRE) (3) Braganza (5) Concertista (FR) (5)

Oscar (IRE) ..................................51,895 Oscar Elite (IRE) (3) Paisley Park (IRE) (3) Pats Fancy (IRE) (5)

Galileo (IRE) .................................49,256 Brazil (IRE) (1) HMS Seahorse (IRE) (4)

Muhtathir .....................................44,032 Envoi Allen (FR) (3)

Network (GER) .............................42,214 Delta Work (FR) (1) Celebre d’Allen (FR) (5)

Mastercraftsman (IRE) .................41,854 Busselton (FR) (2) Hasankey (IRE) (6)

Khalkevi (IRE) ..............................40,200 Eldorado Allen (FR) (3)

Tirwanako (FR) ............................38,610 Gabynako (FR) (2)

Dylan Thomas (IRE) .....................37,185 Ahoy Senor (IRE) (2)

Gris de Gris (IRE) .........................36,667 Chambard (FR) (1)

Gold Well .....................................33,125 Galvin (IRE) (4)

Poliglote .......................................31,957 Didero Vallis (FR) (3) Politologue (FR) (4)

Midnight Legend ..........................30,798 Pink Legend (2) West Cork (4)

Leading Light (IRE) ......................28,685 Three Stripe Life (IRE) (2)

Coastal Path .................................27,975 Saint Roi (FR) (4) Asterion Forlonge (FR) (7)

Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) .............27,740 Bardenstown Lad (3) Mill Green (3) Mint Condition (5)

Vinnie Roe (IRE) ...........................25,440 Imperial Alcazar (IRE) (2)

Well Chosen .................................24,445 Billaway (IRE) (1)

Cacique (IRE) ...............................22,260 Ahorsewithnoname (2)

Racinger (FR) ...............................21,659 El Barra (FR) (3)

Martaline ......................................21,464 Vanillier (FR) (3) Riviere d’Etel (FR) (5) Martello Sky (7) Indigo Breeze (FR) (8)

Morozov (USA) .............................21,200 Alaphilippe (IRE) (2)

Golden Horn .................................21,200 First Street (2)

Mahler ..........................................20,333 American Mike (IRE) (2) Vienna Court (IRE) (6) Mahler Mission (IRE) (7) Whatsnotoknow (IRE) (7)

Enrique .........................................20,287 Fanion d’Estruval (FR) (4)

King’s Theatre (IRE) .....................17,225 Champ (IRE) (4)

Maxios .........................................16,960 Gaelic Warrior (GER) (2)

Aizavoski (IRE) .............................14,389 Whatdeawant (IRE) (3)

New Approach (IRE) .....................14,323 Pied Piper (3)

Apsis ............................................13,262 Frero Banbou (FR) (3)

Jukebox Jury (IRE) .......................13,243 War Lord (GER) (4) Il Etait Temps (FR) (5)

Court Cave (IRE) ..........................13,190 Plan Of Attack (IRE) (3) Jpr One (IRE) (5)

Darsi (FR) ....................................12,732 Spiritofthegames (IRE) (3)

Winged Love (IRE) .......................12,220 Winged Leader (IRE) (2)

Cokoriko (FR) ...............................11,737 Fakir d’Alene (FR) (4) Icare Allen (FR) (4)

Great Pretender (IRE) ..................11,140 Grangee (FR) (3)

Makfi ............................................10,610 Colonel Mustard (FR) (3)

Medicean .....................................10,387 Melon (5)

Manduro (GER) ..............................9,360 Capodanno (FR) (4)

Dream Well (FR) ............................8,645 Klassical Dream (FR) (5)

Excelebration (IRE) ........................8,488 Bell Ex One (IRE) (3)

Thyme Hill (2)

Buck’s Boum (FR) ..........................8,312 Al Boum Photo (FR) (6)

Gleneagles (IRE) ............................7,784 Bring On The Night (4)

Saddex ...........................................6,625 Editeur Du Gite (FR) (4)

Zambezi Sun ..................................6,418 Zambella (FR) (4)

Motivator ........................................6,360 Stormy Ireland (FR) (4)

Lord Du Sud (FR) ...........................6,360 Stolen Silver (FR) (4)

Papal Bull .......................................5,300 Winter Fog (IRE) (4)

Lope de Vega (IRE) ........................5,300 Camprond (FR) (4)

Secret Singer (FR) .........................4,485 Freedom To Dream (FR) (4)

Kap Rock (FR) ................................4,485 Diesel d’Allier (FR) (4)

Power .............................................3,784 Our Power (IRE) (5) Lunar Power (IRE) (8)

Kalanisi (IRE) .................................2,660 Honest Vic (IRE) (5)

Creachadoir (IRE) ..........................2,242 Mitchouka (FR) (5)

Camelot ..........................................2,128 Too Friendly (5)

Kandidate .......................................1,861 Haxo (FR) (6)

Presenting ......................................1,596 Slate House (IRE) (6)

Wiener Walzer (GER) .....................1,530 Adagio (GER) (8)

Le Fou (IRE) ...................................1,330 Suprise Package (6)

Fast Company (IRE) .......................1,330 Christopher Wood (IRE) (6)

Elusive Pimpernel (USA) ................1,202 Coeur Sublime (IRE) (7)

Fairly Ransom (USA) .....................1,147 Mister Fogpatches (IRE) (6)

Saddler Maker (IRE) ......................1,117 Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) (6)

Poet’s Voice ...................................1,072 Poetic Music (6)

Dark Angel (IRE) ............................1,064 Swinging London (IRE) (6)

Born To Sea (IRE) ..........................1,000 Cormier (IRE) (7) My Mate Mozzie (IRE) (8)

Cyril O’Hara .................................68,047 Stattler (IRE) (1) Tea Clipper (IRE) (4) Gowel Road (IRE) (7)

Christophe Toulorge .....................67,582 Elimay (FR) (1)

Timothy Considine .......................67,524 Coole Cody (IRE) (1)

D Breen ........................................67,524 Marie’s Rock (IRE) (1)

Guy Cherel & Mme Isabelle Pacault 66,312 Protektorat (FR) (3)

Ciaran O’Toole .............................59,083 Love Envoi (IRE) (1)

Mrs Mouse Hamilton-Fairley ........56,270 Third Wind (1)

Patricia Coghlan ...........................56,270 Commander Of Fleet (IRE) (1)

M L Bloodstock Ltd ......................56,270 State Man (FR) (1)

His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs S C . ......................................................49,407 Zanahiyr (IRE) (3) Hasankey (IRE) (6)

Hammer & Trowel Syndicate .......45,560 Facile Vega (IRE) (1)

Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud ...... ......................................................45,016 Brazil (IRE) (1)

Aleyrion Bloodstock Ltd ...............40,191 Busselton (FR) (2)

Dan McSorley ..............................39,022 Banbridge (IRE) (1)

C Magnien & J Magnien ...............39,022 Delta Work (FR) (1)

Mme Marie Pallot ........................38,610 Gabynako (FR) (2)

D P Constable ..............................37,185 Ahoy Senor (IRE) (2)

A Cypres, A Maggiar & E Roussel 36,667 Chambard (FR) (1)

M Conaghan .................................34,482 Paisley Park (IRE) (3)

Gabriel O’Gara .............................33,125 Galvin (IRE) (4)

Maurice O’Brien ...........................30,562 Run Wild Fred (IRE) (2)

J Asple .........................................29,642 Minella Cocooner (IRE) (2)

Lotfi Kohli .....................................29,249 Jonbon (FR) (2)

Pat O’Reilly ..................................28,685

Make Believe ....................................891 Doctor Parnassus (IRE) (7)

Davidoff (GER) ..................................825 Fantastikas (FR) (7)

Spanish Moon (USA) .........................528 Iberique Du Seuil (FR) (7)

Three Stripe Life (IRE) (2)

Mrs Henri Devin ...........................28,620 Fil Dor (FR) (2)

Mrs Gillian Browne ......................26,500 Andy Dufresne (IRE) (2)

Mme Genevieve Mongin ...............26,500 Gericault Roque (FR) (2)

Getaway (GER) ..................................475 Brorson (IRE) (8)

Francis Mahon .............................25,498 Pink Legend (2)

Schiaparelli (GER) ............................408 Schiehallion Munro (8)

Denis Noonan ...............................25,440 Imperial Alcazar (IRE) (2)

Territories (IRE) ................................272 Prairie Dancer (IRE) (8)

Mrs Richella Rohan ......................25,440 Queens Brook (IRE) (2)

LEADING BREEDERS £ W & Pl Mme Henri Devin .......................374,479 A Plus Tard (FR) (1) Politologue (FR) (4)

Dr G W Guy ................................253,215 Honeysuckle (1)

Christophe Dubourg ...................226,672 Energumene (FR) (1)

Eric Leffray ................................211,425 Allaho (FR) (1)

Sean Murphy ..............................182,877 Flooring Porter (IRE) (1)

Mrs R H Lalor .............................132,500 Minella Indo (IRE) (2)

R Abrey & I Thurtle ....................102,481 Edwardstone (1)

Kenneth Parkhill .........................101,564 Bob Olinger (IRE) (1)

Bernard Camp ..............................98,557 L’Homme Presse (FR) (1)

Francois-Xavier & Anne Doulce Lefeuvre ......................................................95,400 Epatante (FR) (2)

Bruno Vagne ................................94,579 Eldorado Allen (FR) (3) Envoi Allen (FR) (3) Icare Allen (FR) (4) Celebre d’Allen (FR) (5)

Gilles Trapenard ..........................86,392 Funambule Sivola (FR) (2)

Hubert Langot & Michel Langot ...79,912 Janidil (FR) (2)

Con O’Keeffe ................................79,504 The Nice Guy (IRE) (1) Embittered (IRE) (7)

Mrs S A Noott ...............................76,593 Constitution Hill (1)

Keatingstown Bloodstock .............76,030 Sir Gerhard (IRE) (1)

P Decouz & S C E A Du Bas Bugey 75,964 Vauban (FR) (1)

Martin Byrne ................................70,337 Global Citizen (IRE) (1)

P Hillis .........................................70,337 Corach Rambler (IRE) (1)

Overbury Stallions Ltd ..................68,900

John Blake ...................................24,445 Billaway (IRE) (1)

P E Guilloux, J Thomas & B Dasque 23,850 Saint Roi (FR) (4)

Whitley Stud .................................22,260 Ahorsewithnoname (2)

Patrice Vagne ..............................21,659 El Barra (FR) (3)

Lady Bamford ...............................21,200 First Street (2)

Bryan Mangan ..............................21,200 Alaphilippe (IRE) (2)

Sydney Vidal ................................21,200 Fastorslow (FR) (2)

Marie-Francoise Le Gentil ............20,287 Fanion d’Estruval (FR) (4)

Mrs Joelle Morruzzi & Mrs Raymonde Demai ..........................................19,323 Blue Lord (FR) (3)

S C E A Ecurie Cerdeval ...............18,652 Gaillard Du Mesnil (FR) (3)

S C E A Le Haras d’Haspel ...........18,330 Mister Coffey (FR) (2)

Christopher Maye .........................18,280 Cobblers Dream (IRE) (2) My Mate Mozzie (IRE) (8)

G O’Brien ......................................17,940 Tiger Roll (IRE) (2)

Philip And Mrs Jane Myerscough .17,225 Champ (IRE) (4)

Louis Murray & Colm Moran ........17,096 American Mike (IRE) (2)

The Niarchos Family ....................16,960 Gaelic Warrior (GER) (2)

Philippe Mace ..............................16,625 Royale Pagaille (FR) (5)

S C E A Ecurie Haras Des Marais .15,487 Vanillier (FR) (3)

Mrs P Mullins ...............................14,952 Kilcruit (IRE) (3)

J B Property Developments (Midlands) Ltd ......................................................14,835 Bardenstown Lad (3)

P Connell ......................................14,630 Ballyadam (IRE) (5) Glory And Fortune (IRE) (5)

Ms Nadja Humphreys ...................14,389 Whatdeawant (IRE) (3)

The Queen ....................................14,323 Pied Piper (3)

Madame Evelyne Banchereau ......13,262 Frero Banbou (FR) (3)

T McAuliffe ...................................13,262 Oscar Elite (IRE) (3)

Eddie O’Donoghue ........................12,790 Scarlet And Dove (IRE) (3)

Mrs A Coffey ................................12,732 Mrs Milner (IRE) (3)

Paddy Kinsella .............................12,732 Spiritofthegames (IRE) (3)

Butlersgrove Stud ........................12,232 Put The Kettle On (IRE) (5)

M Coughlan ..................................12,220 Winged Leader (IRE) (2)

Jacques Cypres & Laurent Couetil 11,140 Grangee (FR) (3)

R Cody ..........................................10,730 Bell Ex One (IRE) (3) Party Business (IRE) (5)

Mrs Rita Brown ............................10,610 Mill Green (3)

Mrs Fiona McStay ........................10,610 Ashdale Bob (IRE) (3)

Gestut Gorlsdorf ...........................10,610 Colonel Mustard (FR) (3)

Newsells Park Stud ......................10,387 Melon (5)

Gestut Etzean .................................9,652 War Lord (GER) (4)

Andre Hebert ..................................9,360 Capodanno (FR) (4)

Andre Noel Dutertre .......................9,165 Didero Vallis (FR) (3)

Miss Margaret Wall .......................8,970 Hollow Games (IRE) (3)

Mrs Claire Doyle ............................8,970 Plan Of Attack (IRE) (3)

Hubert Honore & Mrs Laure Guillaume ... ........................................................8,645 Klassical Dream (FR) (5)

Greg Rossiter & Denis Hickey ........8,560 James’s Gate (IRE) (3)

Emmanuel Clayeux & Jacky Rauch 8,312 Al Boum Photo (FR) (6)

Thistletown Stud ............................7,925 Beatthebullet (IRE) (4)

Ecurie Serval ..................................7,784 Bring On The Night (4)

Crossogue Stud & G Felisati ..........7,410 Ballygrifincottage (IRE) (4)

Ronald Huggins & George William Tiney ........................................................7,220 I Am Maximus (FR) (4)

Daniel Gerault ................................6,625 Editeur Du Gite (FR) (4)

Mme Anne Boisnard & Mr Yannick Fouin ........................................................6,418 Zambella (FR) (4)

S C Snig Elevage ............................6,360 Stolen Silver (FR) (4)

S C E A Haras d’Orfausse ...............6,360 Stormy Ireland (FR) (4)

Joseph And Mark Molloy ................6,110 Mighty Stowaway (IRE) (3)

Lord Blyth .......................................5,985 Not So Sleepy (6)

Gaetan Gilles ..................................5,565 Nurse Susan (FR) (4)

Desmond Amond ............................5,400 Shan Blue (IRE) (6)

S A Franklin Finance ......................5,300 Camprond (FR) (4)

Paddy O’Leary ................................5,300 Winter Fog (IRE) (4)

Pitchall Stud ...................................5,300 West Cork (4)

Yannick Fouin ................................4,844 Riviere d’Etel (FR) (5)

Mrs Virginia McGrath .....................4,740 Dusart (IRE) (5)

Louis Couteaudier ..........................4,582 Fakir d’Alene (FR) (4)

Michel Bourgneuf ...........................4,485 Freedom To Dream (FR) (4)

Yves Maupoil .................................4,485 Diesel d’Allier (FR) (4)

Sean O’Driscoll ..............................4,322 Home By The Lee (IRE) (6)

W P Mullins ....................................4,264 Seabank Bistro (IRE) (4)

Coolmore .......................................4,240 HMS Seahorse (IRE) (4)

Robert Allen ...................................4,220 Jpr One (IRE) (5)

Maurice Leamy ..............................4,150 Pats Fancy (IRE) (5)

E A R L La Forlonge .......................4,125 Asterion Forlonge (FR) (7)

S A Le Thenney ..............................3,719 Green Book (FR) (5)

Aiden Murphy .................................3,656 Hemlock (5)

E Clayeux & S C Ecurie Couderc ....3,591 Il Etait Temps (FR) (5)

Mrs Amy Collins .............................3,325 Amarillo Sky (IRE) (5)

John Hennessy ...............................3,325 Our Power (IRE) (5)

Wertheimer Et Frere ......................3,250 Concertista (FR) (5)

Thierry Storme ...............................3,192 Echoes In Rain (FR) (5)

Richard Cotter ................................3,055 Dubai Quest (IRE) (4)

Barmakin Ltd & South Lodge Stud .2,970 Appreciate It (IRE) (7)

Lady Richard Wellesley .................2,793 Braganza (5)

R Winston & V Cartmel ..................2,660 Maze Runner (IRE) (5)

W G Cleary .....................................2,660 Honest Vic (IRE) (5)

Haras de Saint Voir & Patrick Joubert .... ........................................................2,422 Haut En Couleurs (FR) (6)

James Dunne .................................2,412 Threeunderthrufive (IRE) (6)

J R Weston .....................................2,295 Mint Condition (5)

Georges Sandor .............................2,242 Mitchouka (FR) (5)

M Bocq Verdys, R Mauri-Amoros Et Al .... ........................................................2,145 Koshari (FR) (7)

Mme Laurence Gagneux ................2,144 Authorised Speed (FR) (5)

Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd 2,128 Too Friendly (5)

Mr & Mrs R Kelvin-Hughes ............2,125 Santini (8)

Grange Stud ...................................1,989 Senor Lombardy (IRE) (5) Lunar Power (IRE) (8)

Eric Leray .......................................1,861 Haxo (FR) (6)

M Morgan .......................................1,859 Ramillies (IRE) (6)

Earl Haras De La Croix Sonnet, Mlle S Hosselet & H Hosselet ...................1,795 Porticello (FR) (6)

Geoffrey Thompson ........................1,662 Death Duty (IRE) (6)

Colman O’Flynn Jnr ........................1,654 Vienna Court (IRE) (6)

Aaron Metcalfe ...............................1,596 Slate House (IRE) (6)

P Hennessy ....................................1,596 Heaven Help Us (IRE) (6)

Gestut Schlenderhan ......................1,530 Adagio (GER) (8)

Tom O’Doherty ...............................1,396 Impervious (IRE) (6)

Derwent Dene Farm .......................1,330 Suprise Package (6)

Liam Gilsenan ................................1,330 If The Cap Fits (IRE) (6)

Airlie Stud ......................................1,330 Christopher Wood (IRE) (6)

Harry Browne .................................1,240 Beacon Edge (IRE) (7)

Paul Croke ......................................1,202 Coeur Sublime (IRE) (7)

J B Fahy .........................................1,147 Mister Fogpatches (IRE) (6)

Marie Devilder & Stephanie Fasquelle .... ........................................................1,117 Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) (6)

Mrs Noreen McManus ....................1,117 Ilikedwayurthinkin (IRE) (6)

R McCarthy ....................................1,105 Royal Kahala (IRE) (8)

H & V Pratt .....................................1,072 Poetic Music (6)

Zalim Bifov .....................................1,064 Swinging London (IRE) (6)

Mrs Lisa Doran .................................956 Scarface (IRE) (7)

Ivor Dulohery ....................................922 Mahler Mission (IRE) (7)

Knockainey Stud ...............................891 Doctor Parnassus (IRE) (7)

Philip Hore ........................................850 Mount Ida (IRE) (7)

R Van Haaren & E Van Haaren ..........825 Fantastikas (FR) (7)

G C Hartigan ......................................792 The Glancing Queen (IRE) (7)

T Wood ..............................................792 Martello Sky (7)

Degner Limited .................................765 Pont Aven (IRE) (6)

Frank Motherway & Kevin Curtin ......693 Party Central (IRE) (7)

Grangecon Stud ................................660 Cormier (IRE) (7)

Redmond Barry .................................660 Whatsnotoknow (IRE) (7)

Sunnyhill Stud ...................................619 Magic Daze (IRE) (8)

Mrs Catherine Boudot .......................528 Iberique Du Seuil (FR) (7)

G Merrigan ........................................475 Brorson (IRE) (8)

Noel Lemaire ....................................425 Il Ridoto (FR) (8)

A R M M Kavanagh ...........................425 Lostintranslation (IRE) (8)

Miss K Hannigan ...............................408 Schiehallion Munro (8)

Geoff Hubbard Racing .......................408 Nada To Prada (8)

M Juhen-Cypres & Et Al ....................357 Hors Piste (FR) (8)

Haras de Moricand ............................340 Indigo Breeze (FR) (8)

Seamus Kennedy ..............................340 Coeur Serein (IRE) (8)

S Sweeney ........................................272 Prairie Dancer (IRE) (8)

9

Racing Post Friday, March 25, 2022

‘Now I want to breed a Derby winner’ – Decouz revels in success of Vauban Celebrations after the success of Vauban in the Triumph Hurdle, a day to remember for Philippe Decouz (below

Scott Burton speaks to the Flat trainer who bred a Cheltenham Festival hero

P

HILIPPE DECOUZ is widely recognised as one of the rising talents in the French training ranks and has had his profile raised as the man who holds the racing dreams of Atletico Madrid and France striker Antoine Griezmann in his hands.

But last week Decouz realised an altogether different racing ambition.

Decked out in a pink and green polka dot scarf to match the colours of owner Rich Ricci, he was at Cheltenham to cheer home Vauban, the deeply impressive winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Plenty of French trainers have made the pilgrimage to Prestbury Park to watch their former inmates perform but, as well as having sent out the son of Galiway to score at Listed level before his sale to Ricci and Willie Mullins, Decouz also bred Vauban in partnership with Olivier de Seyssel.

“I was lucky enough to be able to go to Cheltenham in exceptional circumstances,” says Decouz. “To go there with the favourite for the Triumph Hurdle is in itself a pretty rare opportunity for small breeders like ourselves.

“But on top of that the owner, Rich Ricci, was really kind to us in providing all the badges necessary for the stables, the parade ring and the stands.

“We went feeling pretty

relaxed but once the horses got out on the track the tension really began to mount, and watching the race was a very intense experience.”

Vauban is out of Waldfest, a mare Decouz modestly describes as hailing from “a nice family,” one whose outlines begin to come into focus when he mentions the mating choice of the thenuntested Galiway was an attempt to recreate the same cross as Arc winner Waldgeist.

By Hurricane Run, Waldfest failed to win on five starts for her breeders Haras de la Perelle and trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, and was purchased privately.

Although Decouz got her to break her duck at lowly Carpentras first time out at four, by the time she was retired to the paddocks at the end of the following season she had slipped to what British and Irish handicappers would have as a mark of 41.

What had undoubtedly attracted Decouz was that ‘nice’ family, one now known the world over simply as ‘W.’ Waldfest’s third dam was the Gestut Ravensberg blue hen Wurftaube, while her granddam Waldmark is a half-sister to one Frenchbased stallion in Waldpark and mother to another in Masked Marvel.

Waldmark is also the dam of Waldlerche, whose most celebrated progeny Waldgeist won the Arc for Gestut Ammerland and Newsells

Park and who rates among the most exciting young producers in Europe.

“We always had faith but you needed to have that belief because the mare was retired with a [French] rating of 18.5,” says Decouz.

“I believed in her because at three she was the workmate in the mornings for a filly who was Group class, while she is from a nice distaff family.

“We sent Waldfest to Galiway with the idea of a mating in the image of Waldgeist but on a much more modest budget - at the time he was standing for €3,000.

“She turned out to be a wonderful mare and Vauban was always athletic, not too big, and he has never ceased developing.”

Decouz is no slave to commercial imperatives and his breeding activity - which runs to around a dozen broodmares now - is all about producing racehorses he can train, rather than heading for the sales.

He says: “She had a colt by Zarak afterwards who unfortunately died as a yearling on the farm.

“After that she failed to get in foal for a year and then before Vauban had run we sent her to another reasonably inexpensive stallion in American Devil, who is not a bad sire, including in the jumping sphere. She produced a beautiful foal who is now a yearling.

“After that I was interested in reproducing the Kendargent-Montjeu cross but, since we didn’t have the means to go to him, we tried another young stallion in Jimmy Two Times, and she foaled a daughter to him last week.”

Even without the exploits of Vauban there is now plenty of encouragement for jumping prospectors to knock on Decouz’s door, given the presence in the family of Haras de Cercy resident Waldpark, the Deutsches Derby winner of 2011, and Masked Marvel, who is enjoying a major breakthrough this season for Haras d’Etreham with such flagbearers at Teahupoo and Maskada, as well as last Sunday’s Prix Troytown winner Sel Jem.

B

UT Decouz has glory on the Flat in mind with his next mating for Waldfest.

“This year she will go to Masar,” he reveals. “When you look at her pedigree you’re looking at producing the winner of a Jockey Club or a Derby, and Masar has the same profile.

“I loved him as a racehorse, he won a Group race at two and, while he wasn’t necessarily precocious, he had speed. As a grandson of Galileo he’s a good match with her family in the mould of Vauban, so we know the cross works well.

“He’s a little bit of a coup

de coeur (choice of the heart) for me and this year he’s not too expensive, perhaps he’s not so in vogue as he wasn’t a miler.”

Decouz will continue to follow his instincts when it comes to breeding from his own racemares, a strategy which has already borne fruit in the case of Group 3 winner Go Athletico, who he co-bred with Normandie Breeding’s Guillaume Vitse and who took his owner-breeders to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup. “I’ve always loved the breeding side and I was actually a breeder before I became a trainer, though I had only one mare to begin with,” he says.

“As a trainer I have been able to develop the two sides hand in hand. For instance, I trained Byburg, the dam of Go Athletico, who I bred and then trained to win at Group level.

“I always believed in her because she had great heart, as well as some size to her.”

Decouz adds: “When you’re then breeding with mares like that, not only are we unable to go to the top stallions but it’s actually important not to ‘over-match’ them.

“We try to do things that we believe in, and it’s not a commercial venture, the goal is rather to train what we breed.”

As for Vauban, Decouz was always sure he would win a

Group race on the Flat – his final start before heading to Ireland produced a Listed win at Vichy – and he will be packing the lucky pink scarf to follow him wherever he ends up, even if that turns out to be at the Melbourne Cup. “I will try to be there wherever he goes,” says the trainer-breeder and now chief supporter.

“He certainly has a future on the Flat and he’s a very straightforward ride so you could aim him at the good staying races, plus he has that double acceleration you saw on Friday. For us, it’s fantastic luck to have such a horse.”

Mullins relies on Pierre Boulard to be his eyes and ears in France but made a point of inspecting Vauban personally before the deal was done.

“He began to follow the horse at the end of June, beginning of July, and he came to visit the yard in Chantilly,” recalls Decouz.

“We had a long conversation about the horse and also the history of the name Vauban.

“He is an extraordinary professional – much better than me! – and I’m just delighted that it’s Willie who will be guiding his career.”

10

Friday, March 25, 2022 racingpost.com

BLOODSTOCK SPECIAL CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL REVIEW RACE-BY-RACE RESULTS Tuesday 15th March Going: GOOD TO SOFT SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m .1 CONSTITUTION HILL (GB) 5 11-7 (N de Boinville) �� 172 (b g Blue Bresil (FR) - Queen Of The Stage (IRE) (King’s Theatre)) .2 JONBON (FR) 6 11-7 (Aidan Coleman) ��������������������� 149 (b g Walk In The Park (IRE) - Star Face (FR) (Saint Des Saints)) .3 KILCRUIT (IRE) 7 11-7 (Mr P W Mullins) ������������������ 147 (b g Stowaway (GB) - Not Broke Yet (IRE) (Broken Hearted)) 9 ran. 22, 21/2, 81/2, 24.

Winning Time: 3m44s Winning Trainer: Nicky Henderson Winning Owner: Michael Buckley Winning Breeder: Mrs S A Noott SPORTING LIFE ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m .1 EDWARDSTONE (GB) 8 11-4 (Tom Cannon) ����������� 165 (b g Kayf Tara (GB) - Nothingtoloose (IRE) (Luso)) .2 GABYNAKO (FR) 7 11-4 (Keith Donoghue) �������������� 160 (b g Tirwanako (FR) - Gunboatfrance (FR) (Gunboat Diplomacy)) .3 BLUE LORD (FR) 7 11-4 (Paul Townend) ������������������ 157 (b g Blue Bresil (FR) - Lorette (FR) (Cachet Noir)) 11 ran. 41/4, 31/2, 3, 2, 31/2, 12, 34.

Winning Time: 3m51s Winning Trainer: Alan King Winning Owner: Robert Abrey, Ian Thurtle Winning Breeder: R Abrey & I Thurtle ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3) (GBB Race) 3m1f CORACH RAMBLER (IRE) 8 10-2 (Derek Fox) ��������� 151 (b g Jeremy (USA) - Heart N Hope (IRE) (Fourstars Allstar)) .2 GERICAULT ROQUE (FR) 6 10-0 (Tom Scudamore) � 144 (b g Montmartre (FR) - Nijinska Delaroque (FR) (Lute Antique)) .3 OSCAR ELITE (IRE) 7 10-0 (Harry Cobden) �������������� 145 (b g Oscar (IRE) - Lady Elite (IRE) (Lord Americo)) .4 TEA CLIPPER (IRE) 7 10-7 (Stan Sheppard) ������������� 144 (b g Stowaway (GB) - A Plus Ma Puce (FR) (Turgeon)) 24 ran. 23/4, hd, 8, 1/2, 1, 1/2, 61/2, nk, 4, 1/2, nk, 3/4, 13/4, 23/4, 21/4, 13/4, 21/4, 27.

Winning Time: 6m18s Winning Trainer: Lucinda Russell Winning Owner: The Ramblers Winning Breeder: P Hillis .1

UNIBET CHAMPION HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m .1 HONEYSUCKLE (GB) 8 11-3 (Rachael Blackmore) ���� 159 (b m Sulamani (IRE) - First Royal (GER) (Lando)) .2 EPATANTE (FR) 8 11-3 (Aidan Coleman) ������������������ 157 (b m No Risk At All (FR) - Kadjara (FR) (Silver Rainbow)) .3 ZANAHIYR (IRE) 5 11-10 (Jack Kennedy) ����������������� 161 (ch g Nathaniel (IRE) - Zariyna (IRE) (Marju)) 10 ran. 31/2, 1, 23/4, 11/2, nk, nk, 51/2, 12, 6.

Winning Time: 3m50s Winning Trainer: Henry De Bromhead Winning Owner: Kenneth Alexander Winning Breeder: Dr G W Guy CLOSE BROTHERS MARES’ HURDLE (Registered as The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m4f .1 MARIE’S ROCK (IRE) 7 11-5 (Nico de Boinville) ������ 146 (bb m Milan (GB) - By The Hour (IRE) (Flemensfirth)) .2 QUEENS BROOK (IRE) 7 11-5 (Jack Kennedy) ��������� 143 (b m Shirocco (GER) - Awesome Miracle (IRE) (Supreme Leader)) .3 MRS MILNER (IRE) 7 11-5 (B J Cooper) ������������������� 145 (b m Flemensfirth (USA) - Thegirlonthehill (IRE) (Oscar)) 12 ran. 13/4, 13/4, 11/4, 13/4, 11/2, 11/4, nk, 17, 23/4.

Winning Time: 4m45s Winning Trainer: Nicky Henderson Winning Owner: Middleham Park Racing XLII Winning Breeder: D Breen BOODLES JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE (Registered as The Fred Winter) (Grade 3) (GBB Race) 2m .1 BRAZIL (IRE) 4 11-9 (Mark Walsh) ��������������������������� 139 (b c Galileo (IRE) - Dialafara (FR) (Anabaa)) .2 GAELIC WARRIOR (GER) 4 11-1 (Paul Townend) ���� 132 (b g Maxios (GB) - Game Of Legs (FR) (Hernando)) .3 BELL EX ONE (IRE) 4 11-2 (Harry Cobden) �������������� 128 (b g Excelebration (IRE) - Bonnie Bluebell (IRE) (Montjeu)) .4 HMS SEAHORSE (IRE) 4 11-0 (B J Cooper) �������������� 125 (ch c Galileo (IRE) - After (IRE) (Danehill Dancer)) 21 ran. shd, 11/2, 2, 11/4, 33/4, 1/2, 3/4, 3, 11/2, 21/4, 1/2, 71/2, shd, 13/4, 1/2, 1 /2, 31/4, 21/2, 1.

Winning Time: 3m58s Winning Trainer: Padraig Roche Winning Owner: John P McManus Winning Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud

The man with a James Thomas with the inside track from Willie Mullins’ bloodstock agent Harold Kirk

I

T’S Willie Mullins’ world and we’re all just living in it.

At least that’s how it felt after the master of Closutton claimed the leading trainer title at the Cheltenham Festival with an unprecedented ten winners, including six in Grade 1 company and a fabulous Friday five-timer.

While these results reaffirm Mullins’ unique talent for having his horses at the peak of their powers when it matters most, the ten-strong festival haul also heaps great credit on other members of the trainer’s team too.

The man tasked with keeping the Mullins battalion brimming with talent is the trainer’s longserving bloodstock agent Harold Kirk, who was instrumental in sourcing the likes of Allaho, Energumene and Vauban.

Kirk (right) has been a key cog in the Mullins machine for 18 years now, but while buying for a master trainer whose clients generally have deep pockets may seem a charmed position, he is quick to point out that the privilege has to be earned.

Explaining how his association

with Mullins began, Kirk says: “There was never anything formal or agreed, it just happened naturally. We were good friends through riding and we went to the sales together with Jackie [Mullins, wife]. I just joined in and as Willie got bigger he didn’t have time to do all that side of it.”

Having been by Mullins’ side for close to two decades, Kirk has a unique insight into what the trainer is like behind the scenes.

Despite the affable exterior the agent says there is an unmistakably steely side to Mullins, before drawing a comparison with one of the greatest sporting figures of recent times.

“He’s very loyal, he backs his staff, his jockeys and backs me,” says Kirk. “But you don’t want to make the same mistake twice with him and when he says something you listen. Everybody would have a lot of respect for him but a little bit of fear factor at the same time.

“He reminds me a little bit of

UKRAINE APPEAL NATIONAL HUNT CHALLENGE CUP AMATEUR JOCKEYS’ NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 2) (GBB Race) 3m6f .1 STATTLER (IRE) 7 11-6 (Mr P W Mullins) ����������������� 164 (br g Stowaway (GB) - Our Honey (IRE) (Old Vic)) .2 RUN WILD FRED (IRE) 8 11-6 (Mr J J Codd) ����������� 156 (ch g Shantou (USA) - Talkin Madam (IRE) (Talkin Man)) .3 VANILLIER (FR) 7 11-6 (Mr Derek O’Connor) ����������� 134 (gr g Martaline (GB) - Virgata (FR) (Turgeon)) 6 ran. 8, 22, 24, shd.

Winning Time: 7m38s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: R A Bartlett Winning Breeder: Cyril O’Hara

Wednesday 16th March Going: SOFT changing to HEAVY after Race 4 BALLYMORE NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham) (GBB Race) 2m5f .1 SIR GERHARD (IRE) 7 11-7 (Paul Townend) ������������ 154 (b g Jeremy (USA) - Faanan Aldaar (IRE) (Authorized)) .2 THREE STRIPE LIFE (IRE) 6 11-7 (Davy Russell) ����� 148 (br g Leading Light (IRE) - Hirayna (GB) (Doyoun)) .3 WHATDEAWANT (IRE) 6 11-7 (Danny Mullins) ������� 139 (b g Aizavoski (IRE) - Hidden Reserve (IRE) (Heron Island)) 9 ran. 31/2, 9, 81/2, 33, 6, 4.

Winning Time: 5m20s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: Cheveley Park Stud Winning Breeder: Keatingstown Bloodstock BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices’ Chase) (GBB Race) 3m .1 L’HOMME PRESSE (FR) 7 11-4 (Charlie Deutsch) ������ 167 (b g Diamond Boy (FR) - Romance Turgot (FR) (Bateau Rouge)) .2 AHOY SENOR (IRE) 7 11-4 (Derek Fox) ���������������������� 162 (b g Dylan Thomas (IRE) - Dara Supreme (IRE) (Darazari)) .3 GAILLARD DU MESNIL (FR) 6 11-4 (Paul Townend) 160

Alex Ferguson when he was at Manchester United. He was a very good delegator but always carried that bit of fear factor with everybody. I think that’s important as it drives everybody forward and doesn’t allow anyone to get complacent.

“It’s a big team at Willie’s though and he’s got great staff.

He’s got David Casey and Ruby Walsh, who are fantastic people, and his wife, Jackie, is very important too. Everybody has their job to do and everybody does their job well.”

There is plainly no complacency among Kirk and his French counterpart Pierre Boulard, as the pair of Closutton talent spotters have helped Mullins unearth festival winners with a diverse range of backgrounds.

Allaho and State Man came via the French jumping route, with Allaho having started out with Guy Cherel and State Man with Daniela Mele, while Vauban also came from across the Channel but

(gr g Saint Des Saints (FR) - Athena Du Mesnil (FR) (Al Namix)) 9 ran. 31/2, 13/4, 7, 2, 41/4, 9.

Winning Time: 6m35s Winning Trainer: Venetia Williams Winning Owner: DFA Racing (Pink & Edwards) Winning Breeder: Bernard Camp

CORAL CUP HANDICAP HURDLE (Grade 3) (GBB Race) 2m5f .1 COMMANDER OF FLEET (IRE) 8 11-5 (Shane Fitzgerald) ����������������������������������������������������������� 157 (b g Fame And Glory (GB) - Coonagh Cross (IRE) (Saddlers’ Hall)) .2 FASTORSLOW (FR) 6 10-13 (Darragh O’Keeffe) ������� 145 (b g Saint Des Saints (FR) - Popova (FR) (Kahyasi)) .3 ASHDALE BOB (IRE) 7 11-7 (Jack Foley) ������������������ 151 (b g Shantou (USA) - Ceol Rua (IRE) (Bob Back)) .4 CAMPROND (FR) 6 10-12 (Aidan Coleman) ������������ 135 (b g Lope De Vega (IRE) - Bernieres (IRE) (Montjeu)) 23 ran. shd, 51/2, 43/4, 10, nk, 11/2, 31/4, 41/2, nse, 7, 20, 11/4, 3/4, 12.

Winning Time: 5m20s Winning Trainer: Gordon Elliott Winning Owner: Gigginstown House Stud Winning Breeder: Patricia Coghlan BETWAY QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m .1 ENERGUMENE (FR) 8 11-10 (Paul Townend) ���������� 177 (br g Denham Red (FR) - Olinight (FR) (April Night)) .2 FUNAMBULE SIVOLA (FR) 7 11-10 (C Deutsch) ����� 166 (b g Noroit (GER) - Little Memories (IRE) (Montjeu)) .3 ENVOI ALLEN (FR) 8 11-10 (Rachael Blackmore) ���� 163 (b g Muhtathir (GB) - Reaction (FR) (Saint Des Saints)) 7 ran. 81/2, 41/2, 12, 21/4.

Winning Time: 4m6s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: Tony Bloom Winning Breeder: Christophe Dubourg GLENFARCLAS CHASE (A Cross Country Chase) (GBB Race) 3m6f .1 DELTA WORK (FR) 9 11-4 (Jack Kennedy) ���������������� 166 (br g Network (GER) - Robbe (FR) (Video Rock))

having raced on the Flat for Philippe Decouz, for whom he won a Vichy Listed event. Billaway and Energumene are both former point-to-pointers, with Billaway having raced in Ireland for Tracey Gilmour while Energumene was with Tom and Sophie Lacey in Britain.

“We don’t have any set way of doing things, and if there’s another way of doing things out there then we’ll try to find it,” says Kirk. “We try to cover every avenue and look for different angles. And if you can come up with a different angle, Willie will back you.”

When it comes to sourcing the next generation of talent, the Kirk, Boulard and Mullins axis have been well rewarded for ploughing their own furrow. Their forays into the French market have been particularly fruitful, having found greats like Al Boum Photo, Douvan, Hurricane Fly, Min, Un De Sceaux and Vautour, to name but a few.

“We try to have a different way of looking at things, that’s why we started going to France,” says Kirk.

“Willie’s very good at thinking outside of the box and getting a new angle on things, and at that time the Irish horses were expensive.

“Not everybody was going to France at that time, Anthony Bromley was probably the big man over there at that point, but

. TIGER ROLL (IRE) 12 11-4 (Davy Russell) ���������������� 164 2 (b g Authorized (IRE) - Swiss Roll (IRE) (Entrepreneur)) .3 PLAN OF ATTACK (IRE) 9 11-4 (Darragh O’Keeffe) � 143 (b g Court Cave (IRE) - Loadsofability (IRE) (Supreme Leader)) 16 ran. 3/4, 21, 81/2, 4, 21, 13, 18.

Winning Time: 9m9s Winning Trainer: Gordon Elliott Winning Owner: Gigginstown House Stud Winning Breeder: C Magnien & J Magnien

JOHNNY HENDERSON GRAND ANNUAL CHALLENGE CUP HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3) (GBB Race) 2m .1 GLOBAL CITIZEN (IRE) 10 10-6 (Kielan Woods) ������ 146 (b g Alkaadhem (GB) - Lady Willmurt (IRE) (Mandalus)) .2 ANDY DUFRESNE (IRE) 8 11-11 (Mark Walsh) ������� 161 (b g Doyen (IRE) - Daytona Lily (IRE) (Beneficial)) .3 FRERO BANBOU (FR) 7 10-11 (Charlie Deutsch) ����� 147 (b g Apsis (GB) - Lady Banbou (FR) (Useful)) .4 EDITEUR DU GITE (FR) 8 11-9 (Joshua Moore) ������ 156 (b g Saddex (GB) - Malaga De St Sulpice (FR) (Saint Cyrien)) 16 ran. 3, 3, 1/2, 8, 31/4, 1, 12, 3/4, 2, 10.

Winning Time: 4m13s Winning Trainer: Ben Pauling Winning Owner: The Megsons Winning Breeder: Martin Byrne WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m .1 FACILE VEGA (IRE) 5 11-5 (Mr P W Mullins) ����������� 141 (b g Walk In The Park (IRE) - Quevega (FR) (Robin Des Champs)) .2 AMERICAN MIKE (IRE) 5 11-5 (Mr J J Codd) ���������� 135 (b g Mahler (GB) - American Jennie (IRE) (Lord Americo)) .3 JAMES’S GATE (IRE) 5 11-5 (Sean O’Keeffe) ����������� 133 (b g Shantou (USA) - Annie May (IRE) (Anshan)) 20 ran. 33/4, 21/2, 23/4, 13/4, 21/4, 3/4, 41/2, 81/2, hd, 10, 81/2, 20, 3/4, 41.

Winning Time: 4m5s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Winning Breeder: Hammer & Trowel Syndicate

11

Racing Post Friday, March 25, 2022

Pictures: LAURA GREEN, PATRICK McCANN & JOHN GROSSICK (RACINGPOST.COM/PHOTOS)

unique insight Point-to-point graduates: Champion Chase winner Energumene and (inset) Billaway

we explored that avenue and it has been very lucky for us. Now everybody and every owner wants to buy in France because they’ve seen what the French system produces.”

Not only did Mullins break new ground in terms of volume of winners at this year’s festival, he also scooped one of the few prizes that had previously eluded his clutches when Energumene ran out a commanding winner of the Champion Chase.

The top-class eight-year-old,

who was bred in France but won a Larkhill maiden point, shares a key similarity to another of Kirk and Mullins’ biggest success stories.

“I used to go over to Tom Lacey’s in February time and I looked around his horses and loved him,” Kirk says as he recalls his first encounter with Energumene. “He’s by Denham Red and we had Un De Sceaux, who’s by the same sire, at the same time.

“He was a gorgeous-looking horse and I knew Tom was going

Thursday 17th March Going: SOFT

to run him in a point-to-point a month later. So I asked him if the horse won or ran well would he give me a chance to buy him, and luckily he did.”

While team Mullins had numerous causes for celebration across the four-day meeting, Kirk says the biggest result involved a horse who did not return victorious to the winner’s enclosure but instead fell at the final fence when in the process of running a huge race in the Turners Novices’ Chase.

Winning Time: 5m10s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: Cheveley Park Stud Winning Breeder: Eric Leffray

TURNERS NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1) (Registered As The Golden Miller) (GBB Race) 2m3½f .1 BOB OLINGER (IRE) 7 11-4 (Rachael Blackmore) ���� 160 (b g Sholokhov (IRE) - Zenaide (IRE) (Zaffaran)) .2 BUSSELTON (FR) 5 11-2 (J J Slevin) �������������������������� 118 (b g Mastercraftsman (IRE) - Blessed Luck (IRE) (Rock Of Gibraltar)) .3 EL BARRA (FR) 8 11-4 (Mr P W Mullins) �������������������� 92 (br g Racinger (FR) - Oasaka (FR) (Robin Des Champs)) 4 ran. 40, 28.

Winning Time: 5m8s Winning Trainer: Henry De Bromhead Winning Owner: Robcour Winning Breeder: Kenneth Parkhill

PADDY POWER STAYERS’ HURDLE (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 3m .1 FLOORING PORTER (IRE) 7 11-10 (Danny Mullins) 166 (b g Yeats (IRE) - Lillymile (IRE) (Revoque)) .2 THYME HILL (GB) 8 11-10 (Tom O’Brien) ����������������� 163 (b g Kayf Tara (GB) - Rosita Bay (GB) (Hernando)) .3 PAISLEY PARK (IRE) 10 11-10 (Aidan Coleman) ������ 162 (b g Oscar (IRE) - Presenting Shares (IRE) (Presenting)) 10 ran. 23/4, nse, 11/4, 1, 21/2, nk, 3/4, 51/2.

Winning Time: 5m58s Winning Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Winning Owner: Flooring Porter Syndicate Winning Breeder: Sean Murphy

PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE (Grade 3) (GBB Race) 3m .1 THIRD WIND (GB) 8 10-11 (Tom O’Brien) ���������������� 149 (bb g Shirocco (GER) - Act Three (GB) (Beat Hollow)) .2 ALAPHILIPPE (IRE) 8 10-8 (Paddy Brennan) ������������ 144 (b g Morozov (USA) - Oscar Bird (IRE) (Oscar)) .3 MILL GREEN (GB) 10 10-8 (Nico de Boinville) ��������� 143 (b g Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) - Ceilidh Royal (GB) (Erhaab)) .4 WINTER FOG (IRE) 8 10-8 (Paul Townend) �������������� 141 (b g Papal Bull (GB) - Banphrionsa (IRE) (Flemensfirth)) 22 ran. nk, 2, 11/4, 4, hd, 1/2, 1/2, nk, 21/4, 1/2, 4, hd, 81/2, 31/2, 23/4, 11, 13/4.

Winning Time: 5m57s Winning Trainer: Hughie Morrison Winning Owner: Mouse Hamilton-Fairley Winning Breeder: Mrs Mouse Hamilton-Fairley

CRAFT IRISH WHISKEY CO. PLATE HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3) (GBB Race) 2m4½f .1 COOLE CODY (IRE) 11 11-2 (Adam Wedge) ������������ 157 (b g Dubai Destination (USA) - Run For Cover (IRE) (Lafontaine I)) .2 IMPERIAL ALCAZAR (IRE) 8 11-9 (Paddy Brennan) 159 (b g Vinnie Roe (IRE) - Maddy’s Supreme (IRE) (Supreme Leader)) .3 SPIRITOFTHEGAMES (IRE) 10 10-7 (Harry Skelton) 140 (b g Darsi (FR) - Lucy Walters (IRE) (King’s Ride)) 15 ran. 61/2, nse, 13/4, 21/4, 33/4, 21/4, 71/2, 11/4, 14, 16.

Winning Time: 5m14s Winning Trainer: Evan Williams Winning Owner: Wayne Clifford Winning Breeder: Timothy Considine

RYANAIR CHASE (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m4½f .1 ALLAHO (FR) 8 11-10 (Paul Townend) ��������������������� 179 (b g No Risk At All (FR) - Idaho Falls (FR) (Turgeon)) .2 JANIDIL (FR) 8 11-10 (Mark Walsh) ������������������������� 166 (b g Indian Daffodil (IRE) - Janidouce (FR) (Kaldounevees)) .3 ELDORADO ALLEN (FR) 8 11-10 (Brendan Powell) 164 (gr g Khalkevi (IRE) - Hesmeralda (FR) (Royal Charter)) 7 ran. 14, 3/4, 13, 23/4, 11/4.

RYANAIR MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 2) (Registered As The Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB) 2m1f .1 LOVE ENVOI (IRE) 6 11-7 (Jonathan Burke) ������������� 138 (b m Westerner (GB) - Love Divided (IRE) (King’s Ride)) .2 AHORSEWITHNONAME (GB) 7 11-2 (Nico de Boinville) ����������������������������������������������������������� 133 (b m Cacique (IRE) - Sea Of Galilee (GB) (Galileo)) .3 GRANGEE (FR) 6 11-2 (Paul Townend) �������������������� 131

“The result that gave me the biggest kick was when Galopin Des Champs got up and walked away,” he says. “Okay he lost the race but his life is still intact. At first it looked as if he’d broken his leg but he’d just got it caught in the reins. To see him walk away was the biggest result team Willie Mullins had at Cheltenham.”

Kirk says he can’t recall exactly how many Cheltenham Festival winners he has been represented by, which speaks volumes about the scale of his success. He is also acutely aware that this year’s record-breaking results have been years in the making, and are something quite out of the ordinary, even by Mullins’ own exceptionally high standards.

“It’s amazing, absolutely amazing,” he says as he reflects on the four days of festival action. “To have ten winners at any festival is huge, but to have ten winners at Cheltenham is massive. And to have five winners out of seven races on Gold Cup day, it’ll take a long time before that’s done again.

“It’s great for all of team Willie Mullins. I’m only a small part of it but personally it was a massive week because that’s where you want horses to turn up, show their ability, be mentally strong and win Grade 1s. I want to congratulate Willie, his staff, his jockeys and his owners. It’s a privilege to be a part of the team.”

(br m Great Pretender (IRE) - Quelle Mome (FR) (Video Rock)) 19 ran. 11/4, 11/2, 13/4, 21/2, nse, 2, 21/4, 51/2, 3/4, hd, nk, 31/2, nse, 21/2, 11/2, 11/4, 15.

Winning Time: 4m8s Winning Trainer: Harry Fry Winning Owner: Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates Love Envoi Winning Breeder: Ciaran O’Toole FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP AMATEUR JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP CHASE (Sponsored

By JRL Group) (GBB) 3m2f .1 CHAMBARD (FR) 10 10-12 (Miss Lucy Turner) ��������� 142 (b g Gris De Gris (IRE) - Regina Park (FR) (Cadoudal)) .2 MISTER COFFEY (FR) 7 11-4 (Mr Sam Waley-Cohen) ���� 144 (b g Authorized (IRE) - Mamitador (GB) (Anabaa)) .3 DIDERO VALLIS (FR) 9 10-8 (Mr James King) ���������� 130 (b g Poliglote (GB) - Oreade Vallis (FR) (April Night)) .4 FAKIR D’ALENE (FR) 7 11-8 (Mr H C Swan) ������������ 148 (b g Cokoriko (FR) - Serbanne (FR) (Network)) 20 ran. 21/2, 1, 1/2, 91/2, 3/4, 6, 11, 13/4, 43/4, 1, 31, 11/4.

Winning Time: 6m55s Winning Trainer: Venetia Williams Winning Owner: David & Carol Shaw Winning Breeder: A Cypres, A Maggiar & E Roussel

Friday 18th March Going: GOOD TO SOFT (Soft in places) JCB TRIUMPH HURDLE (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m1f VAUBAN (FR) 4 11-0 (Paul Townend) ����������������������� 147 (ch g Galiway (GB) - Waldfest (GB) (Hurricane Run)) .2 FIL DOR (FR) 4 11-0 (Davy Russell) �������������������������� 141 (gr g Doctor Dino (FR) - La Turbale (FR) (Ange Gabriel)) .3 PIED PIPER (GB) 4 11-0 (Jack Kennedy) ������������������ 141 (ch g New Approach (IRE) - Pure Fantasy (GB) (Fastnet Rock)) 12 ran. 21/2, nk, 43/4, 11/4, 21/4, 3/4, 41/2, 33/4, 5, 31/2, 27.

Winning Time: 4m6s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: Mrs S Ricci Winning Breeder: P Decouz & S C E A Du Bas Bugey .1

MCCOY CONTRACTORS COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE (Grade 3) (GBB Race) 2m1f .1 STATE MAN (FR) 5 11-1 (Paul Townend) ����������������� 149 (ch g Doctor Dino (FR) - Arret Station (FR) (Johann Quatz)) .2 FIRST STREET (GB) 5 11-2 (Nico de Boinville) ��������� 147 (b g Golden Horn (GB) - Ladys First (GB) (Dutch Art)) .3 COLONEL MUSTARD (FR) 7 10-11 (Conor Orr) ������� 144 (ch g Makfi (GB) - Waldblume (GER) (Halling)) .4 WEST CORK (GB) 8 11-1 (Harry Skelton) ����������������� 142 (b g Midnight Legend (GB) - Calamintha (GB) (Mtoto)) 26 ran. 11/4, 13/4, 21/4, 3/4, 11/2, 13/4, 1, 1/2, nk, 13/4, 3/4, 13/4, 11/2, nk, 1/2, 11/4, 1/2, nk, 2BYPASS:.

Winning Time: 4m1s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: Mrs J Donnelly Winning Breeder: M L Bloodstock Ltd ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) 3m .1 THE NICE GUY (IRE) 7 11-8 (Sean O’Keeffe) ������������ 156 (b g Fame And Glory (GB) - Kilbarry Beauty (IRE) (Saffron Walden)) .2 MINELLA COCOONER (IRE) 6 11-8 (P Townend) ��� 154 (b g Flemensfirth (USA) - Askanna (IRE) (Old Vic)) .3 BARDENSTOWN LAD (GB) 7 11-8 (Sean Bowen) �� 147 (ch g Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) - Pougatcheva (FR) (Epervier Bleu)) 16 ran. 5, 41/4, 4, 5, 2, 21/4, 33/4, 16, 91/2, 33.

Winning Time: 5m54s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: Malcolm C Denmark Winning Breeder: Con O’Keeffe BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP CHASE (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 3m2½f .1 A PLUS TARD (FR) 8 11-10 (Rachael Blackmore) ����� 184 (b g Kapgarde (FR) - Turboka (FR) (Kahyasi)) .2 MINELLA INDO (IRE) 9 11-10 (Robbie Power) �������� 172 (b g Beat Hollow (GB) - Carrigeen Lily (IRE) (Supreme Leader)) .3 PROTEKTORAT (FR) 7 11-10 (Harry Skelton) ����������� 170 (b g Saint Des Saints (FR) - Protektion (FR) (Protektor)) 11 ran. 15, 21/2, shd, nk, 23/4, 1, 91/2, 30.

Winning Time: 6m42s Winning Trainer: Henry De Bromhead Winning Owner: Cheveley Park Stud Winning Breeder: Mme Henri Devin ST. JAMES’S PLACE FESTIVAL CHALLENGE CUP OPEN HUNTERS’ CHASE 3m2f½f .1 BILLAWAY (IRE) 10 12-0 (Mr P W Mullins) �������������� 144 (b g Well Chosen (GB) - Taipans Girl (IRE) (Taipan)) .2 WINGED LEADER (IRE) 8 12-0 (Mr B O’Neill) ��������� 142 (b g Winged Love (IRE) - Classical Beauty (IRE) (Supreme Leader)) .3 MIGHTY STOWAWAY (IRE) 11 12-0 (Mr J J Codd) � 131 (b g Stowaway (GB) - The Mighty Matron (IRE) (Montelimar)) 19 ran. nk, 12, 13, 21/4, 38.

Winning Time: 6m55s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: J Turner Winning Breeder: John Blake MRS PADDY POWER MARES’ CHASE (Registered As The Liberthine Mares’ Chase) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) 2m4½f .1 ELIMAY (FR) 8 11-2 (Mark Walsh) ���������������������������� 146 (gr m Montmartre (FR) - Hyde (FR) (Poliglote)) .2 PINK LEGEND (GB) 8 11-2 (Charlie Deutsch) ���������� 144 (b m Midnight Legend (GB) - Red And White (IRE) (Red Ransom)) .3 SCARLET AND DOVE (IRE) 8 11-5 (B J Cooper) ������ 147 (b m Jeremy (USA) - Dark Mimosa (IRE) (Bahri)) 8 ran. 1/2, nse, 4, 9, 31/4, 11.

Winning Time: 5m15s Winning Trainer: W P Mullins Winning Owner: John P McManus Winning Breeder: Christophe Toulorge MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP HURDLE (GBB Race) 2m4f .1 BANBRIDGE (IRE) 6 11-3 (M M McDonagh) ����������� 141 (ch g Doyen (IRE) - Old Carton Lass (IRE) (Presenting)) .2 COBBLERS DREAM (IRE) 6 11-2 (Jack Andrews) ���� 138 (br g Yeats (IRE) - Miss Parkington (IRE) (Bob Back)) .3 HOLLOW GAMES (IRE) 6 11-9 (Jordan Gainford) ���� 142 (b g Beat Hollow (GB) - I’m Grand (IRE) (Raise A Grand)) .4 FREEDOM TO DREAM (FR) 7 11-1 (Liam Harrison) 134 (b g Secret Singer (FR) - Jaka De Thaix (FR) (Kadalko)) 23 ran. 11/2, 21/4, hd, 23/4, 21/2, 1/2, hd, 21/4, 11/2, 1, 3/4, 3/4, 6, 21/4, hd, 10, 21/2, 11/4.

Winning Time: 5m6s Winning Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Winning Owner: R A Bartlett Winning Breeder: Dan McSorley

12

Friday, March 25, 2022 racingpost.com

GOLD CUP WINNER PRIVATE PURCHASE

A PLUS TARD

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner (Grade 1) 2022 Congratulations to Cheveley Park Stud, Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore