TWO great female families were to the fore at the weekend, thanks to the victories of North Lodge (Presenting) in the Grade 2 Classic Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Stattler (Stowaway) in the Grade 3 Naas Business Club Novice Chase. Both also have strong connections with the midlands.

North Lodge was bred by the late Oliver and Salome Brennan and is the second Grade 2 winner the couple produced from their Saddlers’ Hall (Sadler’s Wells) mare Saddleeruppat. He was preceded by Winter Escape (Robin Des Pres) who won seven times, notably the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton, and he was placed in the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. The Brennans enjoyed great success as breeders and two standouts were the Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival winner Alberta’s Run and the Midlands Grand National heroine Miss Orchestra.