FORGE Meadow won a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas back in February but a lean enough period since, which saw her fail to place in five runs, came to an end on Saturday at Punchestown when she won the Frontline Security Gravel Mares Hurdle, a listed race.

Bred by Richard Healy and sold as a foal through Barrettstown Stud to George Mullins for just €3,500 at Tattersalls Ireland, this daughter of Beneficial (Top Ville)was reoffered at the same venue in the 2015 Derby Sale where Jessica Harrington’s bid of €27,000 secured her for owner Joe Doyle. The farmer and publican from Ballon has enjoyed big race success in the past, notably when in a partnership that owned Central House.

This latest win pushed Forge Meadow’s earning well over the £100,000 mark and she has been a real money-spinner for Doyle. Successful on her debut in the valuable George Mernagh Memorial Bumper at Fairyhouse, she then ran second to Augusta Kate in a listed mares’ bumper at Punchestown.

She regained winning ways when defeating the talented but ill-fated Toe The Line on her hurdling debut and then was beaten, though badly hampered, when fifth in a Grade 1 hurdle behind Airlie Beach who sold last week for €160,000. Forge Meadow was also runner-up in a Grade 3 hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The female side of Forge Meadow’s pedigree has been very prominent in recent years. She is the best of a pair of winners from the unraced Bob Back (Roberto) mare Ballys Baby, the other being the bumper and point-to-point winner Franks A Million (Blueprint).

A now four-year-old Getaway (Monsun) gelding out of Ballys Baby sold for €52,000 at last year’s Derby Sale, while Joe Doyle now owns the dam’s two-year-old Oscar (Sadler’s Wells) gelding. Last week at Tattersalls Ireland a Mahler (Galileo) colt foal, the latest offspring from Ballys Baby, sold for €48,000 to Gerry Hogan.

Ballys Baby is an own-sister to Back On Line who was placed in a listed chase at Newbury and won a point-to-point, a hurdle race and three chases.

Another full-sister is Bobbing Back and she has made quite an impact at stud having bred The Tullow Tank (Oscar) and Many Clouds (Cloudings).

The Tullow Tank won Grade 1 hurdles at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown, but these performances were overshadowed by the Aintree Grand National winner Many Clouds, who sadly died when he suffered a severe pulmonary haemorrhage after bringing his career earnings to £928,001 with a victory over Thistlecrack in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase.

Forge Meadow is a daughter of Beneficial who won the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and five other races, and travelled to America to finish third in the Grade 1 Washington D C International. He retired to stud 20 years ago and was at Sean Kinsella’s Knockhouse Stud until his death four years ago.

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