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.