GRADE 1 STAR FOR LAVEROCK
The FR suffix was carried to victory in the Grade 1 32Red Kauto Star Novices' Chase (in memory of Nigel Clark) at Kempton, but although French-bred, the winner is by a horse who joined the Irish stallion ranks in 2017.
Group 1 star Laverock (by Octagonal), who stands at Clongiffen Stud, is the sire of Kitten Rock, who is a Grade 2-winning hurdler for the Edward O'Grady stable, and of Black Corton, the Paul Nicholls-trained winner of that three-mile feature on Tuesday.
He was a listed scorer from eight runs over hurdles and his record over the larger obstacles now stands at seven wins and three seconds from 10 starts.
Black Corton, who will turn seven on Monday, was bred by Dominique Guyon and he is the second foal out of the unplaced AQPS (autre que pur sang) mare Pour Le Meilleur (by Video Rock).
She, in turn, is out of the unplaced First Wool (by Matahawk), but that mare is the dam of a string of winners which includes the blacktype-placed chaser Onde De Choc (by Robin Des Champs) and that one's full-sister Unika La Reconce, who won a Thurles maiden hurdle for the Willie Mullins stable five years ago.
Third dam Jupe De Laine (by Vieux Chateau) won six times under National Hunt rules in France and although she is the dam of two blacktype-placed horses and the grandam of several others, it is one of her grandsons who stands out in the first few generations of this pedigree.
Djeddah (by Shafoun) was a blacktype winner over fences at Auteuil but is better known for his wins in the Grade 1 Feltham Novice Chase at Kempton and the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novice Chase at Ascot, and he was Grade 1-placed at Cheltenham.
Black Corton and regular partner Bryony Frost look set to head to Cheltenham in March. The gelding was rated 155 before this latest success and it will be interesting to see how much higher in the rankings he can go.
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LATE CHASING STAR A NOTABLE SIRE
One of the factors that has contributed to the emergence of France as a premier source of National Hunt talent is the number of their stallions who were themselves talented performers over hurdles and fences.
Another is their AQPS (autre que pur sang) programme, which saw horses from various breeds, including Selle Français, French Trotters and Anglo Arabs, brought into the non-thoroughbred register.
Wednesday's Grade 2 32Red.com Wayward Lad Novices' Chase winner Cyrname represents a combination of both these factors as he is a son of the top-class chaser Nickname (by Lost World) and out of an AQPS mare.
Nickname was already well-established as a Grade 1 in France before joining the Martin Brassil team and he began his chasing career with a 10-length victory at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting of 2005.
Grade 2 success followed quickly, he beat Central House by 14 lengths in 2006's edition of the Grade 1 Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown, was runner-up to Mansony in the race 12 months later, and his string of Grade 2 wins featured defeat of Kicking King and Newmill in the Normans Grove Chase at Gowran Park.
That was his penultimate start before going to stud in France but, sadly, he died five years later.
His offspring incude As D'Estruval, Aurore D'Estruval, Frodon, Gwencily Berbas, Le Mercurey, and Yala Enki, as well as the Paul Nicholls-trained Cyrname.
Winner of two of his three starts over fences, the French-bred bay will turn six on Monday.
He was bred by S Follain, E Lecoiffier, and partners, he is out of the flat, hurdle and chase-winning AQPS mare Narquille (by Passing Sale), and he is a half-brother to the dual graded-placed bumper mare Belle Namix (by Al Namix).
Narquille is a full-sister to the flat and multiple chase scorer Mirquille, the pair could be described as being three-parts sisters to the blacktype earner Nivaling (by Passing Sale), and their winning dam, Quille III (by Lee) is out of a Selle Français mare called Geolande (by Monsieur X), who was placed once.
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LISTED SUCCESS FOR KING'S THEATRE MARE
The Anthony Honeyball-trained Duhallow Gesture gave her future paddocks value a boost when taking the Listed Henrietta Knight Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at Huntingdon on Tuesday.
The bay, who will turn six on Monday, is a daughter of late Ballylinch Stud leading sire King's Theatre (by Sadler's Wells), she was bred by M Fahy, and she is a €40,000 graduate of the Goffs Land Rover Sale.
She won a point-to-point at Quakerstown in April, changed hands for £100,000 at the Goffs UK Spring Sale a month later, and won a Tipperary bumper on her only start between then and her blacktype success.
Duhallow Gesture is a half-sister to several winners, including the listed chase heroine Me And Ben (by Revoque) and the blacktype-placed hurdler Cogryhill (by Presenting), and she is out of Rare Gesture (by Shalford), a half-sister to two horses of particular note.
Rhinestone Cowboy (by Be My Native) won both the Grade 1 Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown and Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle in 2004, and dual Cheltenham Festival scorer Wichita Lineman (by King's Theatre) got his top-level success in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury.
Temporary Lull (by Super Concorde), who is the third dam of Duhallow Gesture, was unraced but a successful producer for Moyglare Stud.
In addition to Triumph Hurdle scorer Rare Holiday (by Caerleon), she was was responsible for US Grade 2 winner Wait Till Monday (by Maelstrom Lake) and for juvenile Group 3 winner Token Gesture (by Alzao), and her descendants include the Group/Grade 1 stars Buffering (by Mossman) and Relaxed Gesture (by Indian Ridge) as well as the latter's Grade 2-winning half-brother Evolving Tactics (by Machiavellian).
The branch of the family that Duhallow Gesture represents is clearly a National Hunt one and there is every reason to hope that she can go on to a successful career at stud whenever her racing days come to an end.
Right now, however, she is a young blacktype-winning racemare who has the potential to do well over hurdles and fences.
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ESPOIR ANOTHER REMINDER OF VOIX DU NORD'S LOSS
Middle-distance Group 1 scorer Voix Du Nord (by Valanour) was only 12 when he died but the Haras de Cercy stallion made quite an impact as a National Hunt sire.
Standouts such as Vroum Vroum Mag, Taquin Du Seuil, Vibrato Valtat, Vaniteux, Bachasson and Defi Du Seuil are on his role of honour and so too is Espoir D'Allen who has yet to taste defeat in five career outings.
He won a 12-furlong flat race in France in April, joined the Gavin Crowell team in October, made a winning debut at Punchestown shortly afterwards, and has since followed-up at Down Royal, Fairyhouse and Leopardstown.
He won the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle easily on his penultimate start and then added Tuesday's Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle, beating Farclas by one and a quarter lengths.
Espoir D'Allen was bred, in France, by Bruno Vagne, he is out of Quadanse (by Maille Pistol) and he is yet another success story for the AQPS (autre que pur sang) programme.
He is the fourth foal out of an unraced half-sister to the Selle Français gelding Mikador (by Kadalko), who has been a Grade 3-placed listed scorer at Auteuil, and to Nouvelle Recrue (by Ragmar), a placed Selle Français mare whose AQPS offspring include listed chase heroine Concerto D'Allen (by Coastal Path) and the talented Arbie De Vie (by Antarticque).
That Willie Mullins-trained gelding won over fences at Galway in August, he finished third to Dounikos in the Grade 2 novice chase at Limerick on Tuesday, and he carries the famous Ricci colours.
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GRADE 2 WIN FOR DERBY SALE GRADUATE
The Gordon Elliott-trained Dounikos may have been a somewhat fortunate winner of the Grade 2 McMahons Builders Providers – New Online Store Just Launched Novice Chase at Limerick on Tuesday but the fences are there to be jumped and he has won both of his starts over them.
A lightly raced bumper and hurdles scorer before making the switch last month, the six-year-old also has a point-to-point success to his name and could become very well known in the not too distant future.
He carries the famous Gigginstown House Stud colours, he was bred in France by G.A.E.C. Leviau, and he is a son of Smadoun (by Kaldoun), the stallion who gave us Smad Place, Navacarat and Smashing, among others of note.
He is the best of several multiple is out of Baby Sitter (by Nikos) – which include his talented full-sister Nanette – and he is a €52,000 graduate of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.
His dam won twice in France as a three-year-old, her successful progeny also include a filly who won on the flat as a two-year-old, and she is a granddaughter of Brown Princess (by Run The Gantlet), who produced eight winners from 11 foals.
The octet included the Group 3-placed juvenile Brownstone (by Arctic Tern) and her blacktype descendants include the flat stakes winners Film Noir (by Alleged), Polyfirst (by Poliglote) and Baby First (by Enrique), the latter pair also having the distinction of being group-placed.
Those talented performers are remotely connected to Dounikos, but their presence on the page shows that he comes from a family that has an established tradition of producing blacktype horses.
That said, it would appear that he may be the best that this family has produced for a long time, and with the start he has made as a chaser, combined with the all-conquering record of his connections, there is every reason to hope that he may go on to succeed at the highest level before long.
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BARGAIN TAMURE SON SHOWS POTENTIAL
Derby runner-up Tamure is one of many sons of Sadler's Wells (by Northern Dancer) who have excelled as a National Hunt sire and he added to his blacktype tally when Get On The Yager stayed on well to pip Wakanda near the post in the Grade 3 188Bet Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Tuesday.
He was receiving 11lbs from the experienced runner-up but could have plenty of improvement to come as this was just his fourth outing over fences.
He was unplaced on his first two tries but then stepped up to three and a quarter miles at Fontwell, where he won by seven lengths. His blacktype success came over three miles.
This seven-year-old could have a bright future ahead of him in long-distance handicap chases. Might he be a future candidate for the Grand National and its various similarly-named equivalents?
Get On The Yager is trained by Dan Skelton, he was bred by C and Mrs Wilson, and he made just £3,800 when sold at the DBS August Sale four years ago.
He is the first foal out of two-mile winning hurdler Florentino (by Efisio), who is a full-sister to 13 and a half-furlong flat listed scorer Flossy, and his unraced grandam, Sirene Bleu Marine (by Secreto), comes from a branch of the famous German family whose many top runners include last year's Group 1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Serienholde (by Soldier Hollow).
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GRADE 1 WIN FOR LATE JEREMY
Former Irish National Stud resident Jeremy (by Danehill Dancer) was early in the new phase of his stallion career at Garryrichard Stud at the time of his premature death and his blacktype roll of honour was enhanced at Leopardstown on Wednesday when Whiskey Sour won the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle over two miles.
The Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old was bred by Airlie Stud – a name often associated with classic horses – and his four-in-a-row includes both his starts over jumps.
He is the second foal out of Swizzle Stick (by Sadler's Wells), who is an unraced half-sister to the Group 2 star Viztoria (by Oratorio), and his grandam is 12-furlong listed scorer Viz (by Darshaan), a half-sister to the capable dual-purpose gelding Forbearing (by Bering).
This is a branch of the family of Group/Grade 1 stars such as Awe Inspiring (by Slew O' Gold), Culture Vulture (by Timeless Moment), Polish Precedent (by Danzig) and Zilzal (by Nureyev).
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NED SPRINGS GRADE 1 SURPRISE
Min was first past the post in the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase over two miles, one furlong at Leopardstown on Wednesday but lost the race in the stewards' room having interfered with 16/1 shot Simply Ned who finished half a length adrift at the line.
A 10-year-old trained by Nicky Richards, Simply Ned was bred in Ireland by Irene Hatton and he is a son of the high-class middle-distance horse Fruits Of Love (by Hansel), now a long-time member of the team at Annshoon Stud.
His unraced dam, Bishops Lass (by Marju), is also responsible for the flat, bumper and hurdles winner Apt Manor (by Craigsteel).
His grandam and third dam won on the flat, but it is his fourth dam who catches the eye as she is the prolific Princess Ivor (by Sir Ivor), a multiple stakes winner in the USA and who comes from a branch of the family of European pattern winners such as Kathy College (by College Chapel) and Rosendhal (by Indian Ridge).
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TINGLE CREEK STAR WINS AGAIN
Recent Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase star Politologue took his record over fences to six wins from nine starts when coming home 13 lengths clear of his closest pursuer in the Grade 2 Unibet Desert Orchid Chase over two miles at Kempton on Wednesday.
The Paul Nicholls-trained grey, who will turn seven years old on Monday, was bred in France by Antonia Devin, of Haras du Mesnil, and, as his name might suggest, he is a son of the leading international dual-purpose stallion Poliglote (by Sadler's Wells).
A half-brother to the winning French hurdler Scarlett Du Mesnil (by Muhtathir), he is out of Scarlet Row (by Turgeon), a listed hurdle winner who was Grade 1-placed over fences.
The mare is a full-sister to the blacktype-placed prolific winner Adelaide Square and out of Nile Glorieuse (by Le Glorieux), a winning half-sister to listed chase scorer Nile Bonheur (by Turgeon).
The various other blacktype winners in the immediate family include hurdlers Lou Princess (by Martaline) and Prince Pretender (by Great Pretender), Grade 2-winning chaser Princesse Kap (by Kapgarde), and also listed chase heroine Neomenie (by Rheffic), who is the fourth dam of Politologue.
In addition to being a talented racehorse, Neomenie produced five winners from five foals and, not only did they include four-time scorer Nile Palace (by Crystal Palace) – the third dam of Politologue – but also Group 3 winner Nil Bleu (by Valiyar) and listed chase winner Newness (by Simply Great), the dam of Grade 1 chase star and notable stallion Nickname (by Lost World).
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CHAMPION HURDLE HERO EXTENDS HIS SEQUENCE
Champion Hurdle hero Buveur d'Air extended his winning run to eight when beating The New One by two and a quarter lengths in the Grade 1 Unibet Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Tuesday.
The son of veteran Haras de la Baie stallion Crillon (by Saumarez) was bred, in France, by Gerard Ferte. He is trained by Nicky Henderson and he carries the famous J.P. McManus colours.
Due to turn seven on Monday, the gelding is out of the AQPS (autre que pur sang) mare History (by Alesso) and so is a half-brother to the Grade 1-winning chaser Punchestowns (by Morespeed).
His siblings also include the prolific scorers Rackham Lerouge (by Fado) and Tistory (by Epalo).
His grandam, the Selle Français mare Clair Deux Lune (by Altayan), was placed once as a three-year-old but is a half-sister to the National Hunt blacktype scorers Darjeeling III (by Quart De Vin) and Fujiyama (by Lute Antique) and is out of the 10-time winner Lili Dancer (by Evainqueur).
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SCORPION'S SON MIGHT BITE WINS KING GEORGE
Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham and Aintree last season, the Nicky Henderson-trained Might Bite justified favouritism at Kempton on Tuesday with victory in the Grade 1 32Red King George VI Chase.
It was a fifth consecutive win over fences for the son of classic star Scorpion (by Montjeu) and just his ninth career outing over the larger obstacles, which suggests that there may be further improvement to come from the 165-rated bay.
Scorpion, who is related to Ardross, was a long-time resident of Castle Hyde Stud but joined the team at Shade Oak Stud last season and is due to start his second year there at a fee of £3,000.
Might Bite was bred by John O'Brien, he is the second foal out of Knotted Midge (by Presenting) and that point-to-point scorer is also the dam of Beat That (by Milan).
Also trained by Henderson, he was only third over hurdles at Sandown on his most recent outing, but he has won three from seven over flights, including the Grade 1 novice features at Punchestown and Aintree in 2014.
Knotted Midge is out of an unraced mare called Bula Beag (by Brush Aside) but she is a half-sister to the blacktype-placed hurdle and chase scorer Dushybeag (by Dushyantor) and to multiple chase winner Drombeag (by Presenting).
Her dam, on the other hand, has just one winning sibling but that is the bumper, hurdles and point-to-point scorer Bula Vogue (by Phardante) and she is the dam of Grade B-winning chaser Jamies Choice (by Flemensfirth).
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THIRD GRADE 1 WIN FOR CREACHADOIR'S TOP SON
A dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles, Footpad switched to the larger obstacles last month and he made it two from two with an odds-on success in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase over two miles, one furlong at Leopardstown on Tuesday.
The Willie Mullins-trained French-bred is a half-brother to three talented jumpers and yet it is for the flat that one may have held hopes for him when he was born.
The five-year-old is a son of the Group 1-winning miler Creachadoir (by King's Best) and he is out of Willamina (by Sadler's Wells), a middle-distance flat winner whose full-sister, Sadler's Flag, won the Group 3 Prix du Royaumont and earned placings in the Group 2 Prix de Mallaret and Group 2 Prix de Pomone.
Her grandam, Animatrice (by Alleged), won the Group 2 Prix de Mallaret at Longchamp and finished third in the Group 1 Oaks at Epsom, and the next dam is the prolific blacktype producer Alexandrie (by Val De L'Orne).
Group 1 ace and leading international dual-purpose sire Poliglote (by Sadler's Wells) is the brightest star among Alexandrie's offspring, whereas her dam's half-sister Aryenne (by Green Dancer) is the classic-winning dam of Group 1 Derby hero and sire Quest For Fame (by Rainbow Quest).
Willamina has produced winners on the flat but, despite her Group 1 and classic connections, it is under National Hunt rules that her offspring have achieved their greatest success.
In addition to her triple Grade 1 star Footpad, she is the dam of Grade 1 Grand National Hurdle runner-up Organisateur (by Highest Honor), of French listed hurdle scorer Wanaba (by Anabaa), and of Wild Mania (by King's Best) who won over hurdles and fences in France and got her blacktype over the larger obstacles.