DESPITE winning his third Grade 1 at the weekend, adding the Ascot Chase to victories in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse and the Melling Chase at Aintree, this is the column’s first look at the pedigree of Fakir D’Oudairies.

The seven-year-old son of Kapgarde is easily the best runner in at least four generations of his family, but this is due more to lack of opportunity than anything else. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that using Kapgarde was a major upgrade, and he has had the same effect on the pedigree. Fakir D’Oudairies was bred by Comte Michel de Gigou.

A public trainer for 30 years until he handed in his licence two decades ago, Gigou has been a successful breeder, owner and involved in the administrative sire of racing and breeding, having been president of the Association des AQPS de l’Ouest. Fakir D’Oudairies is a fine example of the best of the AQPS breed.

Leading sire

Kapgarde (Garde Royale) is one of the best National Hunt sires in France and the Haras de le Hetraie stallion, who turned 23 this year, will stand again this season for €15,000.

The multiple Grade 1 winner Milord Thomas is among many who have flown the flag for him in France, while the dual Grade 1 King George VI Chase winner Clan Des Obeaux and the triple Grade 1 winning chaser A Plus Tard are among his best in Ireland and Britain.

Fakir D’Oudairies is one of just five foals from Niagaria Du Bois (Grand Tresor), two of which are winners (both of her sons) and another pair were placed.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained multiple Grade 1 winner is the penultimate offspring of Niagaria Du Bois who earned money on all but two of her nine starts over jumps, though she failed to get her head in front.

Sound mare

Her own dam, Eve Du Bois (Djarvis), was a sound mare who started 27 times on the flat, winning three and being placed on a number of occasions.

Her breeding record mirrors that of Fakir D’Oudairies’ dam, with two winners and two placed horses among her five progeny. However, none of her runners were quite of the class to earn blacktype.

Fakir D’Oudairies’ third dam Jamaica (Tryptic) won on the flat and over jumps and Eve Du Bois was her only winner among eight foals.

Jamaica was one of five successful runners from her dam, and the best of these was Otway (Monsieur X), a nine-time winner under both rules who was placed in both the Prix de Drags Chase at Auteuil and the Grand Steeplechase d’Enghien.