18 March 2021
Photos scoopdyga.com, france-sire.com
The day -and possibly this Festival- was all Rachael Blackmore's. The Irish rider won two races at Cheltenham on Thursday. She first won aboard the French-bred Allaho (No Risk At All) in the Ryanair Chase (Gr1), beating another horse from France, Fakir d'Oudairies (Kapgarde). Then she nailed another highlight of the meeting, the Stayers'Hurdle (Gr1), with Telmesomethinggirl. She's now won five races and is the market's favourite at 4/7! Wouldn't that be great news for racing?
The French finally won today, thanks to Allaho (and Rachael). Still, the team's favourite Envoi Allen, also sporting Cheveley Park Stud's colours, fell at the 4th in the Golden Miller Novices' Chase (Gr1), throwing away a clean sheet that had made him one of the shortest-priced runners of the Festival. This is one of these events when nothing seems to go your way, and there's nothing to do but to cheer the winners.
Besides Allaho's win, the French-bred horses took four 2nd places on Thursday and three third places. Horseracing is not boxing, and it's OK to finish second. But one has to wonder: Are French horses better with a crowd?
Best French-bred on Day Three
1:20 Golden Miller Novices' Chase (Gr1) 2m4f
- 2nd Fusil Raffles (AQPS), owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
Bred in Calvados by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
- 3rd Asterion Forlonge, owned by Mrs J Donnelly
Bred in Yonne by EARL de la Forlonge
2:30 Ryanair Chase (Gr1) (GBB Race) 2m4½f
- 1st Allaho, owned by Cheveley Park Stud
Bred in Sarthe by E Leffray
- 2nd Fakir d'Oudairies (AQPS) owned by John P. Mcmanus
Bred in Côtes-d’Armor by Count Michel de Gigou
- 5th Fanion d’Estruval (AQPS), owned by David Wilson
Bred in Pas-de-Calais by Mrs Bernard Le Gentil
3:05 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Gr1) 3m
- 2nd Sire du Berlais, owned by J P McManus
Bred in Vienne by Jean-Marc Lucas
3:40 Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase (Gr3) 2m4½f
- 2nd Farclas, owned by Gigginstown House Stud
Bred in Orne by R Giger, H U Fruh & E Enz
- 3rd Top Notch, owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
Bred in the Sarthe by Haras Des Sablonnets & Dr Vet B Gabeur
4:15 The Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Gr2) 2m1f
- 3rd Mighty Blue, owned by Capel Street Syndicate
Bred in Orne by Dayton Investments Ltd
Le French-bred of the day
Allaho
As Rachael Blackmore was steering the French-bred to victory today, Allaho became the 8th consecutive winner of the Ryanair Chase (Gr1). Now 7, the gelding was bred in the Sarthe, 2 hours West of Paris, by Eric Leffray (see below). He ran once in France for Guy Chérel and owner M L Bloodstock. He finished 2nd at Auteuil for his debut in the €60,000 Rohan Beginners' Hurdle (L), won on that day by Melchief, recent winner of the €45,000 Jean Doumen Hurdle, also at Auteuil.
It was three years ago. Since his purchase by Cheveley Park Stud, Allaho joined Willie Mullins' yard and hardly ever put a foot wrong: he finished in the top three of all his 11 races in Ireland and Britain but one. It was his first win in a Grade 1, for his 3rd trip to Prestbury Park. First, he finished 3rd in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle over 3 miles, then 3rd again last year in the RAS Novices' Chase over an extended 3-miler.
Maybe this shorter distance is where Allaho has become the best.
Le French breeder of the day
Eric & Thomas Leffray
Eric Leffray and his son Thomas bred Allaho in Mayenne out of a Turgeon unraced mare bred by the Devin family. Allaho is her 4th foal, and three others are born after him, that is, an unraced full sister, a Spanish Moon filly who made €38,000 last November at Arqana (click here for her catalogue page), and a No Risk At All colt born in 2020. No Risk At All is one of the leading jumps' sires in France. He's based at the Haras de Montaigu, where Thomas started a World tour campaign that led to his hiring by Arqana last Summer in the French sales company's bloodstock department.
Bloodstock agent of the day:
Guy Petit
Born in Lyon, Guy Petit grew up wanting to become a jockey finally became a bloodstock agent specialized in the purchase of flat of jumps horses in France for the British and Irish market.
He worked closely with reputed trainers such as Ferdy Murphy, Philip Hobbs, Venetia Williams, Sally and Robert Alner, Charlie Mann, Lucinda Russell, Tom Hogan and Tony Martin, also pinhookers such as Sean Gorman, Eoin Banville, Gerry Mullins and Mickael Murphy.
Guy Petit is based in Calvados and is a member of the French Bloodstock Agents Association (AFC): https://www.courtiersafc.com/guy-petit
Tomorrow at Cheltenham
This is the final call for glory! Three Group 1 races are on the card on day 4, including a Gold Cup that could complete the return to the top of the French regiment after its first two-day hiatus. Six of the 12 declared runners come from France, including the two favourites, Al Boum Photo, who is going for a third win in the Blue Riband at 9/4, with A Plus Tard a second choice at 4/1, Royale Pagaille to spice up the cocktail with the Bryony Frost-ridden Frodon and the all consistent Kemboy. Sure this year's Festival proved that numbers are not everything, but the quality is there to matter the quantity, and the game is on.
Friday is the 27th anniversary of the last Gold Cup lifted by a French-trained horse, Marquesa de Moratalla's The Fellow, winner in 1994 for trainer François Doumen. It was the start of a history of French-bred winners in the race, but it remains a daunting test, and nothing can be taken for granted there. Yet, this is probably the best chance of a final French win at Cheltenham this season.
Just as if we only gave our best when the odds were against us.
The "French" Brigade on Friday
38 / 116 runners (33%).
Details below
A French-bred to follow
Royale Pagaille
His name, which translates into "Royal Mess", suggested he was a party crasher, and Royale Pagaille indeed lives up to it since he became the last-minute addition to this year's Gold Cup on Friday at the Festival. Still a novice, he was aimed first at the National Hunt Chase won by Galvin on Tuesday. But his trainer Venetia Williams and the Riccis decided to go for a bigger leap of faith here.
Bought by French bloodstock Agent Guy Petit, a regular purveyor of Williams', at the Arqana 2018 Autumn Sale for 70 000 €, Royale Pagaille was sold by the French leading owner Patrick Papot after a good start in France. A winner over Pau Hurdles at 4, he was consigned to Deauville after a Listed 2nd at Auteuil for trainer François Nicolle.
He wouldn't show up again for a good year until early last year, racing twice only before the Summer. Back this season in full steam, Royale Pagaille won his three races so far, including the >peter marsh Chase (Gr2) lately.
He could, indeed, be anything. His dam Royale Cazoumaille, bred by Gilbert Gallot, was a group-placed hurdler at Auteuil. She was good enough to win there at three but improved with age, as she finished 4th in the French top Hurdle race, over 3 miles, at 6.
Friday Frenchbred entries at the Festival (on ITV)
1:20 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Gr1) 2m1f
- 12/1 Haut en Couleurs, owned by Mrs J Donnelly
Bred in Allier by Haras de saint-Voir & SCEA Patrick Joubert
1:55 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Gr3) 2m1f
- 11/2 Ganapathi (AQPS), owned by Mrs J Donnely
Bred in Doubs by Detouillon Raphael Frédérique
- 11/1 Eclair de Beaufeu (AQPS), owned by Gigginstown House Stud
Bred in Sarthe by M Renaud
- 12/1 Fifty Ball, Fifty Ball (AQPS), owned by Steven Packham
Bred in Saône-et-Loire by Jean-Louis Berger & J F Lamborot
- 20/1 Cayd Boy, owned by J P McManus
Bred in Maine-et-Loire by Yves Dreux
- 20/1 Ciel de Neige, owned by J P McManus
Bred in Sarthe by G Vischer
- 20/1 Saint d’Oroux, owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
Bred in Deux-Sèvres by P R Ambrogi
- 25/1 Darasso (AQPS), owned by J P McManus
Bred in the Manche by Guy & Emmanuel Chérel
- 33/1 Petit Mouchoir, owned by Noel & Valerie Moran
Bred in Mayenne by P Gueret
- 33/1 Le Patriote, owned by Canard Vert Racing Club
Bred in Calvados by Guillaume Prs Camille Vitse
- 33/1 Anna Bunina, owned by Ms Caroline Ahearn
Bred in Calvados by D Cantillon
2:30 Spa Novices' Hurdle (Gr1) 3m
- 5/1 Fakiera (AQPS), owned by Tim O'Driscoll
Bred in Nièvre by Ph Achard
- 10/1 Adrimel, owned by Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford
Bred in Saône-et-Loire by G Descours
- 20/1 Vanillier, owned by Mrs H M Keaveney
Bred in Sarthe by Écurie Haras des Marais
3:05 Wellchild Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Gr1) 3m2½f
- 9/4 Al Boum Photo, owned by Mrs J Donnelly
Bred in Allier par Emmanuel Clayeux & Jacky Rauch
- 4/1 À Plus Tard , owned by Cheveley Park Stud
Bred in Sarthe by Mrs Antonia Devin
- 8/1 Royale Pagaille, owned by Mrs Susan Ricci
Bred in Mayenne by P Macé
- 11/1 Frodon, owned by P J Vogt
Bred in Côtes-d’Armor by P Gasdoue
- 14/1 Kemboy, owned by Kemboy/Brett Graham/Ken Sharp Syndicate
Bred in Meurthe-et-Moselle by Mr & Mrs Philippe Moruzzi
- 66/1 Aso (AQPS), owned by the Bellamy Partnership
Bred in Yvelines by Mrs Isabelle Pacault, Ms Anne-Sophie Pacault, Mrs Magali Girot-Pacault
3:40 St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase 3m2½f
- 4/1 Bob And Co (AQPS), owned by David Maxwell Racing Ltd
Bred in Nièvre by Michèle Juhen-Cyprès
- 14/1 Porlock Bay, owned by John Studd
Bred in Sarthe by John Studd
- 16/1 Chameron, owned by Paul Nicholls & John Bolton
Bred in Saône-et-Loire by Haras des Chataigniers
4:15 Libertine Mares' Chase (Gr2) 2m4½f
- 5/4 Elimay, owned by J P McManus
Bred in Calvados by Christophe Toulorge
- 16/1/1 Salsaretta, owned by Mrs Susan Ricci
Bred in Orne by Mrs L Gagneux & D Guindon
- 20/1 Zambella, owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
Bred in Maine-et-Loire by Mrs A Boisnard & Yannick Fouin
- 33/1 Cut the Mustard (AQPS), owned by the Unlikely Lads
Bred in Vienne by EAREL de Faydeau
4:50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle 2m4½f
- 9/2 Gentleman de Mée (AQPS), owned by J P McManus
Bred in Mayenne by A M Pommerai, Ms A Pommerai, Mrs G Barre & Ms A C Pommerai
- 13/2 Galopin des Champs, owned by Mrs Audrey Turley
Bred in Calvados by GAEC Champs
- 7/1 Gabynako, owned by Mick and Molly Syndicate
Bred in Saône-et-Loire by Mrs M Pallot
- 8/1 Floueur (AQPS), owned by Claudio Michael Grech
Bred in Meuse by A Hamm
- 12/1 Folcano, owned by Noel & Valerie Moran
Bred in Orne by Lumière Breeding Syndicate
- 20/1 Eglantine du Seuil (AQPS), owned by the Unlikely Lads
Bred in Saône-et-Loire by Mrs Marc Boudot
- 20/1 First Lord de Cuet, owned by Potter, Pipe & Pete
Bred in Ain by Serge Bourounoff
- 25/1 Dallas des Pictons (AQPS), owned by Gigginstown House Stud
Bred in Vendée by SCEA Marais des Pictons
- 33/1 Dream Berry, owned by J P McManus
Bred in Sarthe by Countess E Decazes
- 33/1 Fabulous Saga, owned by Sullivan Bloodstock Ltd
Bred in Orne by Haras du Taillis
- 33/1 Dolciano Dici, owned by Ms Diasy Hitchins
Bred in Allier by Mrs B Lasset & A Valette.