CONNECTIONS of Jessber’s Dream have had a change of heart. Winner a few weeks ago of the Grade 2 Weatherbys GSB Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, following her victory trainer Harry Fry indicated that she would be aimed at the Grade 1 mares hurdle at Fairyhouse which the stable won last year with Bitofapuzzle.

They also said that the six-year-old daughter of Milan would in all likelihood not even be entered for the Grade 1 race for mares at Cheltenham. However, she has in fact been given an entry and, with the likely defection of Annie Power to the Champion Hurdle, perhaps she will after all make an appearance at Prestbury Park.

Winner of her only start in a point-to-point for owner Maria Byrne and handler Denis Murphy, Jessber’s Dream was despatched to the following month’s Brightwells Cheltenham Sale where she sold for £55,000. That price may have looked a little on the expensive side when she could only finish fourth on her British debut in a bumper, but she has been more of a revelation since she went hurdling.

Her record over the smaller obstacles reads three wins and two second-place finishes in five outings, culminating with her Grade 2 success. On both occasions that she was runner-up the races were listed events. Jessber’s Dream was bred by Denis Noonan in Fermoy and she is only the second named foal from the first four progeny of her dam Maddy’s Supreme.

The first named, and first born, was Crime Dont Pay, a son of Saddlers’ Hall who was placed over hurdles, fences and in a point-to-point but he failed to get his head in front, despite the best efforts of trainer Paul Webber. The next pair of foals from Maddy’s Supreme, sons by Oscar and Milan, were never named and then came Jessber’s Dream.

Last year at the Derby Sale the O’Rourke’s Glenville Bloodstock bought a three-year-old Westerner half-sister to Jessber’s Dream and she is named Belmont Jewel. She has yet to race and cost only €6,500.

There is a Mahler three-year-old filly, a Vinnie Roe two-year-old colt (bought as a foal by Richard Rohan for €6,500) and a yearling filly by the classic winner Sans Frontieres following on.

Jessber’s Dream is from a family that the Noonans have been associated with for many generations.

Highly acceptable

The story starts with Highly Acceptable, foaled in 1964 and a daughter of Immortality. She won over hurdles as a five-year-old before going to stud. A quarter of her 12 foals won, while some other daughters did well at stud.

The best of the racing offspring of Highly Acceptable was Glassilaun and this most versatile performer won the Carroll Handicap Hurdle at Dundalk to earn some well-deserved big black type. He was also runner-up in both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Sweeps Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Two daughters of Highly Acceptable did very well at stud. The winning Hourly Rate bred the Leopardstown Chase winner Time For A Run and the Grade 3 winner Aunt Aggie, while Hi’ Upham, placed on many occasions, is the dam of the brilliant Native Upmanship, a multiple Grade 1 winner including the Punchestown Chase and the Melling Chase at Aintree twice. Hi’ Upham is also the grandam of Enda Bolger’s Grade 1 winning chaser Gilgamboa.

The unraced Templenoe Forth, another daughter of Highly Acceptable, bred the useful Woodville Star, and through her daughter Shannon Lough is the third dam of Oscar Rock, a listed bumper and chase winner who holds some entries at Cheltenham, including the Ryanair Chase. Shannon Lough is also the grandam of Jessber’s Dream.