WINNER of six races on the flat in France in the early eighties, Miss Jefferson (Jefferson) went on to win a listed hurdle race for fillies at Auteuil. As the sole winner for her own dam, she exceeded expectations as a racemare, but she was to do even better at stud.

As a producer of four winners, the best of which was the dual listed hurdle winner Le Cheyenne (Mansonnien), Miss Jefferson did well, but her real legacy lies with the offspring of her winning daughter Carama (Tip Moss) and that mare’s descendants.

Carama bred five winners and the best were the full-brothers Al Co and Al Tip (Dom Alco). The first named was a surprise winner of the 2014 Grade 3 Scottish Grand National for trainer Peter Bowen. Two of Carama’s daughters have made their mark. Magic Spring (True Brave) ran twice without bothering the judge, but through her unraced daughter Al Gane (Dom Alco) she is grandam of Al Boum Photo (Buck’s Boum), a live Cheltenham hope for Willie Mullins and Grade 1 winner of the Powers Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse last year.

CHELTENHAM HOPEFULs

He is not the only Cheltenham hopeful in the family though. Carama’s unraced daughter Fee Magic (Phantom Breeze) is the dam of Le Richebourg (Network) and he won a second Grade 1 novice chase when taking the honours in the Frank Ward Arkle at Leopardstown, adding to his win at the same track at Christmas.

Le Richebourg is the third blacktype winner for his dam, joining Grade 1 Feltham Novices’ Chase winner Grands Crus (Dom Alco) and the Grade 3 hurdle winner Gevrey Chambertin who was trained by David Pipe.

Le Richebourg is the latest in a long line of Grade 1 winners for Network (Monsun) who himself was a Group 2 winner in Germany before going to stud in 2002. He is best known for runners such as Sprinter Sacre, winner of 10 Grade 1s including the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice, Delta Work, Rubi Ball, Ball D’Arc, Adriana Des Mottes and Saint Are, in addition to many leading performers in France.