GLENVIEW Stud has pulled off a coup by securing the exciting French jumps stallion Jeu St Eloi for stud duties next season.

The deal brokered by Paul Harley Bloodstock Ltd. and Nicolas Bertran de Balanda of NBB Racing sees Jeu St Eloi move from Haras de Cercy to Rathbarry’s National Hunt arm in Co Cork where he will stand alongside Blue Bresil, Eagles By Day, Old Persian, Shirocco and Youmzain.

The 12-year-old Jeu St Eloi has been responsible for a slew of impressive winners in point-to-points, bumpers and hurdles over the past 12 months, both in Ireland and Britain.

Standing 16.3hh, he is a half-brother to the dual Grade 1 winning chaser Oculi (Denham Red), and has the sire Balko (Pistolet Bleu) under the second dam.

The first crop by Jeu St Eloi was born in 2017, and numbered 67 foals. His sixth crop are now yearlings, and his average crop size has been 65.

Jeu St Eloi first came to prominence in Ireland last January when the Willie Mullins-trained It’s For Me won a Navan bumper by 10 lengths and was installed as favourite for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Five days later another of his sons, D Art D Art, won a bumper for trainer Tom Cooper.

A month later, Paul Nicholls saddled Inthewaterside to win a second bumper and that horse remained undefeated when winning over hurdles at Aintree last Sunday. Just last Saturday at Cheltenham, Jeu St Eloi’s son Blueking D’oroux won for the Nicholls stable at Cheltenham and could be aimed at the Greatwood Hurdle later this month.

To top off the weekend, Warren Ewing won a point-to-point at Tattersalls last Sunday with a four-year-old by the sire named Saint Kristobal, who he described as “a little bit special”.

Meanwhile, Willie Mullins has imported the sire’s Grade 3 winner Kargese who, the trainer says, will be aimed at the Triumph Hurdle.

Paul Cashman of Rathbarry & Glenview Studs said: “We are delighted to stand such an exciting young NH sire. He has had great success in his brief career to date and he offers breeders a complete outcross to existing bloodlines.”

The 2024 fee for Jeu St Eloi will be announced in due course.