3 TO FOLLOW
LAST October, on Champions Day, we tipped one French bumper winner to follow for the season over hurdles.
DEFI DU SEUIL went on to win all his seven races including the Triumph Hurdle. All being well he makes his seasonal debut at Cheltenham on Saturday.
It is extremely unlikely that we will unearth another champ but we have found three yet to race over timber that should pay their way.
Like Defi Du Seuil, all are AQPS graduates that have moved to top yards following their wins in valuable races for French non-thoroughbreds. DOSTAL PHIL (Philip Hobbs)
Bought by JP McManus for 295,000 after winning at Deauville 12 months ago.
The runner-up, Demon D’Aunou, was also knocked down to McManus, and he won impressively at Market Rasen on Saturday.
This four-year-old could have his first run for Hobbs at Cheltenham tomorrow. DELIRANT (David Pine) Was sold privately to JP McManus by Etienne and Christine Leenders after winning the Grade One AQPS bumper at Saint-Cloud last November. He is one of the best horses the Leenders have had, which is saying a lot as they have sold Renneti to Willie Mullins and Politologue to Paul Nicholls in recent years.
Pipe had hoped to run Delirant in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival but ran out of time. He will start him over hurdles next month. DORTMUND PARK (Gordon Elliott)
Bought for 230,000 by Gigginstown Stud after his wins for Richard Hobson at Le Lion D’Angers and Nantes earlier this year.
Mullins was the underbidder at the Arqana Summer Sale.
Dortmund Park is from the same family as Valyssa Monterg, who won three for Mullins in Rich Ricci’s Mr Blobby colours, and six in all.
“We bought him as a yearling and he was in pre-training here in the Cotswolds,” said Hobson. “His trainer in France, Fabrice Foucher, said he’s as good as Un De Sceaux, if not better.
“He’s a quality young horse with a very bright future. I wish his new connections all the best.”