SHANTOU became the first sire this week to sire a second winner, when the Tom O’Doherty-bred mare Impervious gave Colm Murphy another memorable Cheltenham occasion in the Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.

The seven-year-old daughter of the St Leger winning son of Alleged (Hoist The Flag) was adding this win to three previous graded successes over hurdles and fences, and what an inspired purchase she was by her trainer.

He gave €26,000 for her at the Derby Sale four years ago, and she was selling at the venue for a second time, realising just €4,000 as a foal.

The better of two winning progeny of the point-to-point winner Blodge (Kalanisi), Impervious is a granddaughter of the wonderful racemare Bilboa (Phantom Breeze), a graded winner over hurdles in England and France who was placed in the Champion Hurdle 21 years ago. At stud she is responsible for a trio of blacktype performers over jumps.

Final race

The Jacques Cypres-bred five-year-old Iroko, twice successful at Wetherby in the lead-up to Cheltenham, drew the curtain down on the 2023 Festival when he won the concluding Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle. The victory had the effect of giving French-bred horses their thirteenth winner of the week, putting them one ahead of the Irish.

Iroko is a son of Haras de Cercy’s Cokoriko (Robin Des Champs), and he stands this year for a fee of €8,000. That price is well justified when you consider that in addition to his big race winners in France, he is the sire of the Thyestes Chase winner Coko Beach, and a number of Grade 3 winners over hurdles in Ireland, namely Icare Allen (also Grade 1-placed), Fakiera and Five O’Clock.

Cokoriko won two of his four starts over hurdles, including a listed race at Auteuil. Iroko is out of a winning daughter of Martaline (Linamix).

Surprise winner

Premier Magic was a surprise winner of the race we knew for a long time as the Foxhunters, now the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup. Bred by Caroline O’Hanlon, the prolific point-to-point winner is one of three successful offspring of the Selkirk (Sharpen Up) mare Burn. She was bred by the Duke of Devonshire, and both of her other winners were multiple scorers on the flat.

Premier Magic is a son of Boardsmill Stud’s Court Cave (Sadler’s Wells), responsible for the likes of City Island, Willoughby Court, Call Me Lyreen and Court Minstrel. Incredibly, you can use this proven Grade 1 sire for just €4,000 this season.