FITZHENRY won the Grade B Whatoddspaddy Novice Handicap Chase at Naas on Sunday for owner JP McManus, trainer Paul Nolan and jockey Barry Geraghty. Last year the same owner saw his colours carried to victory in the contest by Edwulf, while in 2015 the race was won by Empire Of Dirt. This year’s winner has something to live up to if he is to follow these good winners.

On pedigree the six-year-old son of Flemensfirth (Alleged) has plenty to suggest he can go all the way to Grade 1 success. He is one of three foals to date for his French-bred dam She Took A Tree, a daughter of the largely forgotten Sri Pekan (Red Ransom). She Took A Tree won four times on the level in France and was placed many times. Fitzhenry is her second produce, following the moderate eight-year-old Damby’s Star (Kayf Tara) who in January finally got some form and won a maiden point-to-point in England, and she has a yearling full-brother to that particular gelding.

BREEDING

Bred by Sean Gorman, Fitzhenry’s only appearance in a sale ring was at the 2015 Derby Sale in Fairyhouse where he was sold by Fiona Magee, through Ballincurrig House Stud, for €42,000 to the point-to-point master Colin Bowe. The following March he won first time out at Monksgrange and changed ownership and stables. He is a horse on the upgrade and, according to his trainer, is somewhat unlucky not to have won his last four starts.

Fitzhenry adds further blacktype to a pedigree that is not short of it, though much was gained on the flat and in Germany.

That said, She Took A Tree is a half-sister to five winners and the best of these was a gelding who performed with great distinction over hurdles and for an Irish trainer.

WINNING HURDLER

Jazz Messenger (Acatenango) was handled by Noel Meade to become a Grade 1 winning hurdler in both Ireland and England.

The Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown was the zenith of his racing career at home, while he also travelled to Kempton Park and won the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle. He won five times on the flat, for Ger Butler and for Noel Meade, and was a very smart performer in that code with winnings of some £136,000. He added £200,000 for connections with his six hurdle wins, which also included the Grade 2 Tara Hurdle at Navan.

Jazz Messenger and She Took A Tree were out of In The Saltmine (Damister) and she was a listed winner in Germany. That mare’s grandam Isabellita (Neckar) won in Germany and came close to a perfect record at stud, producing 10 foals, nine runners and eight winners.

They included the Group 2 Deutsches St Leger winner Index (Lombard) and the champion German juvenile filly Istria (Silly Season), the latter going on to become a multiple stakes producer in the USA.

Breeders, stallion masters

and readers are invited to contact Leo Powell at leopowell@theirishfield.ie with news and updates for the column, and to visit our website www.theirishfield.ie for daily breeding news