KEN PARKHILL

Bob Olinger (Ire), 2015 g. by Sholokhov out of Zenaide, by Zaffaran

BOB Olinger gained Ken Parkhill a Connolly’s Red Mills/the Irish Field Breeder of the Month nomination back in 2021 when he won the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle, Afterwards he won twice at the Cheltenham Festival, the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices; Hurdle and, 12 months later, capitalising on a last fence fall by Galopin Des Champs, he was first past the post in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase.

Back over hurdles he was runner-up in the Grade 2 Lismullin Hurdle at Navan, and a year later went one better and regained his winning ways in the most recent renewal. He has now won nine of his 14 starts, including a point-to-point for Pat Doyle. Bob Olinger was bred by Ken and his family has a long and distinguished connection with the pedigree.

Zenaide was also bred by Ken and 17 years ago, trained by his wife Lulu and ridden by their son Peter, she won a bumper at Cork on her first start and was beaten a short-head on her only other run. She has shown ability well above the norm as a broodmare, being the dam of six winners on the track and another who won a point-to-point.

Her first two foals were trained by Willie Mullins and were three-time bumper winner and listed-placed at Cheltenham, Darling Carlotta, and the listed novice hurdle winner Myska. The latter is now herself the dam of a Grade 3 hurdle winner.

ARTHUR FENNELLY

Captain Guinness (Ire), 2015 g. by Arakan out of Presenting D’Azy, by Presenting

CAPTAIN Guinness landed the Grade 2 Fortria Chase at Navan for the second year running, and while he did not win any of his three intervening starts, he was second on each occasion, and all in Grade 1 company, the Paddy’s Reward Club Chase at Leopardstown, the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and the Celebration Chase at Sandown.

Bred by Arthur Fennelly, Captain Guinness is a son of the sprinter/miler Arakan, but from a female line that has left its mark on National Hunt racing. Indeed, he is the best runner in the family since the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle winner Celtic Shot some four decades ago. Now winner of six races, Captain Guinness has won four times in blacktype races, adding a pair of Grade 3 wins at Naas to his Grade 2 successes. He has also placed, at Grade 1 level, in the Arkle Trophy Chase at Cheltenham, the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.

Captain Guinness is one of a pair of multiple winners out of his dam. He is not the only horse flying the flag for this family in recent years. Presenting D’Azy’s half-brother Jerrysback, at the age of 10, finally landed a blacktype success when winning the Listed Summer Cup Chase at Uttoxeter for JP McManus. Twice runner-up in Grade 2 novice chases, this was his sixth time to visit a winners’ enclosure, once at a point-to-point, twice over hurdles and the rest over fences.

RONNIE O’NEILL

Knappers Hill (Ire), 2016 g. by Valirann out of Brogella, by King’s Theatre

WINCANTON produced one of the most emotional victories of recent times. The winning silks are famous, but Paul Barber’s name is no longer on the card, replaced by those of Chris and Giles Barber. They were carried to victory by Knappers Hill in the Grade 2 Boodles “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase on the gelding’s second start over fences, and he was runner-up in a listed chase first time out.

Knappers Hill was sold as a foal to M J Walsh for €20,000. He resold in the Goffs Land Rover Sale from Springhill Stud and only three horses sold for more money, as he was purchased by Tom Malone for €155,000. He completed his first season undefeated in three outings, adding the Grade 2 Weatherbys-sponsored Aintree Champion National Hunt Flat Race to a victory in the Listed Ascot Championship Open National Hunt Flat Race.

His two seasons hurdling saw him compile the very respectable record of seven wins in 13 starts and his roll of honour did number successes in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle at Sandown Park and the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

A three-time winner on the flat, Knappers Hill’s dam Brogella was even better over hurdles where her four victories included a Grade 2 at Killarney and a Grade 3 at Punchestown. On her penultimate start, she was third behind Brave Inca in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. She is now the dam of three blacktype winners, and this is the family of Beef Or Salmon. His 13 wins including nine at Grade 1 level.

SHEIKH MOHAMMED

Master Of The Seas (Ire), 2018 g. by Dubawi out of Firth Of Lorne, by Danehill

THE Godolphin-bred Master Of The Seas was in fine fettle during the autumn and in mid-September recorded his first Grade 1 success with his win in the Woodbine Mile. Beaten a nose the following moth in the Grade 1 Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland, he wasted no time in doubling up at the highest level, stealing victory in the final strides from another Godolphin runner, Mawj, in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. This was a seventh win at the Breeders’ Cup for the five-year-old gelding’s sire, Dubawi.

Now winner of half of his 16 starts, and with earnings of more than £1.5 million, Master Of The Seas is the first Group or Grade 1 winner by Dubawi out of a daughter of Danehill. His dam Firth Of Lorne, a listed winner, was beaten a length by Zenda in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas, and another of her sons, Latharnach, was runner-up to Gleneagles in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes.

A daughter of Firth Of Lorne, the Group 3 UAE Oaks winner Falls Of Lora, is the dam of a pair of Group/Grade 1 winners. One is a son of Dubawi, and won his Grade 1 in Canada too. Albahr won the Grade 1 Summer Stakes, while his half-brother Cascadian, racing in Australia, has won the Group 1 the All Aged Stakes, Australian Cup and Doncaster Mile Handicap.

Not only that, but Firth Of Lorne’s daughter Bint Almatar bred the recent Group 1 Metropolitan winner Just Fine.