CON and Claire O’Keeffe’s Kilbarry Lodge Stud is conveniently situated on the western outskirts of Waterford City. They have stood National Hunt sires since 1997 and this year have added two new stallions to their roster, Joshua Tree (Montjeu) and Success Days (Jeremy), to stand alongside Diamond Boy (Mansonnien) and Pillar Coral (Zamindar).

Joshua Tree was a triple Grade 1 winner and his oldest crop are four-year-olds. He has made a good start with his first runners and had increasing levels of support during his time in France, with just short of 100 yearlings on the ground at present.

Success Days, a Group 2 winner of six races, is an exciting edition and looks to be great value at his introductory fee of just €2,000. He is a son of the much-missed Jeremy (Danehill Dancer), and he also gained his biggest win at Group 2 level. Jeremy’s list of top-class National Hunt performers will only grow in years to come, and Success Days is a worthy heir apparent.

Pillar Coral comes from one of the best Juddmonte pedigrees and he is a half-brother to champion French National Hunt sire Martaline (Linamix) as well as the proven Grade 1 jumping sires Coastal Path (Halling) and Reefscape (Linamix). His first crop of all bays are yearlings.

Diamond Boy, a full-brother to multiple Grade 1 chase winner Golden Silver (Mansonnien), covered over 235 mares in each of his first two seasons at Kilbarry Lodge. His first small crops in France have demonstrated his ability to get high-class winners, such as Grade 2 winning English hurdler Grand Sancy and the multiple Grade 3 winning chaser Cat Tiger.

MICHAEL Hickey and his son Mike have two attractive sires at their Sunnyhill Stud outside Kilcullen in Co Kildare. One is very well established, while the other is on the runway, waiting for take-off.

Doyen (Sadler’s Wells) was one of the best racehorses of his generation, winning the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, where he also showed his prowess to land the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.

A full-brother to the Group 1 Oaks heroine Moonshell, he had all the right credentials going to stud. On the flat he sired the Group 1 classic winner Turfdonna, but has really excelled with his runners over jumps.

With much larger crops to run for him, Doyen has already shown he is a force to be reckoned with and the Grade 1 winning hurdler and chaser Battleoverdoyen is a fine example of the quality of runners he already has to represent him. Undoubtedly the best is yet to come.

Lucky Speed’s first crop of three-year-olds will be on show at the store sales this year and if they are anything like his sire they will be popular with trainers. Lucky Speed is not only a classic winner, but he won the Group 1 German Derby in an exceptional time. He also proved himself internationally when setting a track record at Arlington Park in the American St Leger.

His sire, Silvano (Lomitas) won the Grade 1 Arlington Million and a Group 1 in Hong Kong and has a long list of Group 1 winners to his credit. Two of Lucky Speed’s siblings also won major races over hurdles in England and the USA. Their dam is by the influential Monsun (Konigsstuhl).

GARRYRICHARD Stud in Foulksmills, Co Wexford has a record, second to none, of standing leading National Hunt stallions. Denis Hickey’s late father Michael was one of the most knowledgeable men ever when it came to judging a horse, be it thoroughbred or hunter.

Many of the early stallions at Garryrichard are still exerting their influence on the breed.

Denis was unfortunate in recent years to lose the great Jeremy, a stallion whose star continues to rise and about whom we will hear much more in the next number of years. Today the stud is home to one stallion, and he is a good one.

Hillstar is a Grade 1 and Royal Ascot winning son of Danehill Dancer (Danehill), himself a champion racehorse and the sire of Jeremy. Denis is back to the same source that gave him previous success. Danehill Dancer is certainly making a name for himself as a sire of sires, Mastercraftsman being one of his best.

Hillstar won the Grade 1 Canadian International over a mile and a half and his half-brother Crystal Ocean (Sea The Stars), once rated the best racehorse in the world, is also now at stud. Hillstar’s foals sold for up to €38,000 last year and his first crop three-year-olds will be gracing the store sales later this summer with their presence.

SHANTOU (Alleged) has been an outstanding success at stud, and at the great age of 27 years he is still king at Victor Connolly’s Burgage Stud near Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow. He stands with Jukebox Jury (Montjeu) and Sea Moon (Beat Hollow).

The latter’s first crop are three-year-olds and this multiple Group 2 winner ticks all the right boxes if you are looking for a successful sire prospect. As a racehorse he won the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield in Australia.

On pedigree, he is a half-brother to the St Leger winner and successful sire Brian Boru (Sadler’s Well), while his Group 2 winning half-sister bred one of the best hurdling sons of Beat Hollow (Sadler’s Wells), the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Cinders And Ashes.

The Group 1 The Irish Field St Leger and Group 1 Preis von Europa winner Jukebox Jury has hit the ground running as a stallion. His first crop, conceived in Germany, included the Grade 1 winning hurdlers Stuke and Farclas, the latter landing the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The average price for his stores in recent years, from limited numbers, is over €70,000 and breeders have been supporting him well since his move to Ireland. His first Irish crop are yearlings.