THERE has been plenty of attention this week on Eklat De Rire, the Henry de Bromhead-trained winner of the Listed M.W.Hickey Memorial Chase at Wexford. No wonder, given the excellent start he has made to his racing career, one that to date comprises just seven starts and five victories.

Bred in France by Guy Cherel, Eklat De Rire is a son of the Blackrath Stud stallion Saddex (Sadler’s Wells), a Group 1 winner in Germany and Italy and placed at that grade in France. The sire’s first crop included the dual Group 2 winner Pas De Deux, but he has had more success with his National Hunt runners, and they include four blacktype winners.

Eklat De Rire is his best runner, while Sancta Simona was a Grade 3 hurdle winner for JP McManus and Willie Mullins at Down Royal, three years ago this weekend. That same owner-trainer combination is responsible for Blue Sari, runner-up to Envoi Allen in the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Eklat De Rire won a point-to-point for Liz Doyle before he was sold for £110,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale two years ago to bloodstock agent Alex Elliott. Beaten on his hurdling debut, he made no mistake next time out and then had his attention turned to chasing.

Apart from pecking on landing and unseating Rachael Blackmore at Cheltenham in March, Eklat De Rire was won all his starts over fences, including the Grade 3 Naas Novice Chase. He is an improving horse and his future looks bright.

Gold Cup

Could he be a Gold Cup winner? His pedigree says yes. One of four winners for his dam Rochdale (Video Rock), he is a half-brother to Eddie Harty’s Grade 2 Naas hurdle winner of 2021, Damalisque (Linda’s Lad), and Rochdale was herself a three-time winner over jumps in France.

Rochdale was one of seven winners from Debandade (Le Pontet), the best of which was Ladalko (Kadalko). He was talented over hurdles and fences, winning at Grade 2 level over the smaller obstacles, while his biggest win in money terms was his last, the Grade 3 Classic Chase at Warwick when he beat Mon Mome by four lengths.

Another current performer of note in the family is Darasso (Konig Turf), a Grade 2 winning chaser and Grade 3 winner over hurdles. The Joseph O’Brien-trained eight-year-old is out of a blacktype-placed winning half-sister to Rochdale, Nassora (Assessor).

Saddex stood this past season for a fee of €2,000.