Hoping for some Gentleman’s Luck

ONE of the most attractive winners last weekend was the Mouse Morris-trained grey Gentlesmansgame in Cork.

Attractive not just for his looks but also for the manner in which he won his maiden hurdle.

In a time when some suggest we should breeding from stallions that had shown ability to jump, a look back in his pedigree reveals one notable occurrence.

Not only does he have illustrious connections to broadcasting, being bred by Yorton Farm Stud and broadcaster Nick Luck’s mother, his dam Grainne Ni Maille is a daughter of the mare Knight Ryde and a further generation back in the pedigree revels that Knight Ryde was a daughter of the top-class hurdler Broadsword, one of the few of his era to race over jumps as an entire horse, and the mare Rydewell’s Daughter.

She was a sibling of two notable National Hunt performers in Celtic Ryde and Noddys Ryde, both sadly killed in action.

Celtic Well, another daughter of Rydewell, was the dam of another striking top-class grey in Teeton Mill, who also suffered a serious injury on the track. Arthur Moore’s 2001 Arkle winner Well Ridden (out of Rydewell’s Daughter) was a half-sister to Knight Ryde and was also killed before he was able to fulfil all his potential.

Gentlemansgame’s colour comes from his damsire Terimon, a darker grey in his racing days and a 500/1 shocker when taking second place in the Derby to Nashwan. He won the York International at five, at 16/1. Here’s hoping that Gentlemansgame has better luck in his racing career.

What ‘about’ Tramore?

THE official time recorded to complete any race is often the method we use to define greatness in an athlete.

It wouldn’t look too well if we read that Secretariat ran ‘about 2m 24secs’ to win his Belmont Stakes?

Perhaps over jumps, many people take less notice of time, but it’s not good enough for a ruling body to brush off scrutiny as quickly as the IHRB did this week when the Savill’s Chase distance was questioned.