WITH a plethora of top-class racing in recent weeks, there has not been enough space to cover all the big race winners. A fortnight ago France staged one of its biggest weekends of racing, and there was a significant Irish connection to their Grade 1 Grand Steeplechase de Paris winner Carriacou.

Placed in the race previously, he was winning a Grade 1 for the second time, adding to a prior success in the Prix Le Parisien Maurice Gillois. His nine victories to date have netted Carriacou’s owners more than £850,000 and he is the best winner, among five, from his unraced dam Medanik (Medaaly).

Most importantly from an Irish perspective, the seven-year-old is by the Boardsmill Stud sire Califet and is one of an ever-increasing number of Grade 1 National Hunt winners for the stallion. Some of these have been in France, while others have been in Ireland. The latter group includes the Galway Plate winner Clarcam, and the Punchestown Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Cilaos Emery.

Given that Califet’s first Irish crop are just four-year-olds, and that the levels of support he has achieved since going to Boardsmill have increased significantly, he is certain to have his best days ahead of him.

All five winners from Medanik have been successful on multiple occasions, and there is a second blacktype performer among them in Goldik (Goldneyev).