PAT Doyle is a fan of Fame And Glory (Montjeu) who sadly died in 2017 after just a few seasons at stud. He has more reason now to be a fan as he trains the sire’s Grade 2 Johnstown Novice Hurdle winner Flame Bearer, that race having been won by many good horses over recent years, notably in 2013 by Annie Power.

Doyle is eschewing Cheltenham and will instead target Fairyhouse and Punchestown with the seven-year-old who was placed in his only point-to-point, was unbeaten in a pair of bumpers, and has steadily progressed over hurdles to now land his second win in four outings. Bred by Jim Halligan, he sold as a foal for €36,000 and more than doubled that when resold as a three-year-old, again at Tattersalls Ireland, in the Derby Sale.

A year and a half before he was born, Flame Bearer’s dam Banba, a daughter of Docksider (Diesis), was sold for just €5,000 at Goffs to BBA (Ireland). The dam of three winners then, she has added two more to that list, and a point-to-point winner. Banba won over a mile and over 10 furlongs at three, having been placed for trainer Jim Bolger as a two-year-old. She was one of a pair of winners from the unraced See Gold (Goldneyev).

Excellent performers

The third and fourth removes of this family have produced many excellent performers, both on the level and over jumps. While most are distantly related to Flame Bearer, they do show the versatility of the family. On the flat there are stars such as Group 1 winning juvenile Mus-If (Lahib), while under National Hunt rules Petit Mouchoir (Al Namix) is an obvious standout.

Fame And Glory won 14 times in a distinguished racing career that saw him win Group 1s in four of his seasons racing, progressing from the Criterium de Saint-Cloud at two to the Irish Derby at three, landing the Coronation Cup and the Tattersalls Gold Cup at four, and crowning his career with an Ascot Gold Cup win at five. He was runner-up in the Derby at Epsom.

As a sire he is now responsible for 16 blacktype winners, and at Grade 1 level these include Foxy Jack and Commander Of Fleet from his first crop, Ballyadam from his second, and Gardons Le Sourire in France and Stage Star from his third.