French Stallion Success at Cheltenham

French based stallions had a highly successful week at this year's Cheltenham Festival (UK) with multiple sires represented with winners across the four days. We take a deeper look at the success stories.

A PLUS TARD winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase.
A PLUS TARD winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase. Picture: Pat Healy Photography

French-based sires enjoyed a bountiful Cheltenham Festival with success across the four days. French-bred runners were responsible for eight winners of the twenty-eight races, including the feature races on Wednesday and Friday – the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Haras de le Hetraie's stallion Kapgarde continues to influence the staying chase division on both sides of the Channel and tasted success at this year's Cheltenham Festival with G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup (5200m) winner A Plus Tard. He is represented by some of the leading chasers in the UK and Ireland, including former G1 King George VI Chase (4800m) winner Clan Des Obeaux (did not race at the Cheltenham Festival). Although Energumene benefited from the early exit of leading market rival Shiskin, the Willie Mullins-trained runner was a worthy winner of the G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase (3200m) for deceased sire Denham Red. The stallion had previously been represented at the Festival by popular multiple Grade One winning chaser Un De Sceaux.

Allaho achieved back-to-back wins in Thursday's G1 Ryanair (Festival Trophy) Chase (4100m) for Haras de Montaigu's No Risk At All. He was represented by multiple runners across the four days including former G1 Champion Hurdle (3200m) champion Epatante who out-ran market expectations to finish second in this year's renewal. Flat sires Galiway and Montmartre also achieved success. Vauban (Galiway) was a Listed winner on the Flat in France and has been an exciting recruit for the Willie Mullins stable. His victory in the G1 Triumph Hurdle was impressive and connections have expressed interest in targeting big prizes in both codes. The Aga Khan's Montmartre is an attractive commercial prospect for breeders, standing at 4,000 euros in 2022. Elimay's win in the G2 Mares' Chase was his second victory at the Cheltenham Festival, having previously been successfully represented by Labaik in the 2017 G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle (3400m).

For more information about the leading French-based jumps sires, please click here.

French-based Sires (Winners)

1st – G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup – A Plus Tard (Kapgarde x Turboka)

1st – G1 Ryanair Chase – Allaho (No Risk At All x Idaho Falls)

1st - G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase – Energumene (Denham Red x Olinight)

1st – G1 Triumph Hurdle – Vauban (Galiway x Waldfest)

1st – G2 Mares' Chase – Elimay (Montmartre x Hyde)

1st – Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase – Delta Work (Network x Robbe)

1st – Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase – Chambard (Gris de Gris x Regina Park)


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