WHEN it comes to competition for which country will lead the table for most successful breeders at the Cheltenham Festival, that landscape has changed majorly over the past few decades.

Ireland has traditionally led the way, and back in my younger days the main challenger, though usually at a respectable distance, would have been Britain. As we all know, the huge success enjoyed by French-breds has led to a more competitive contest, with Britain now in third place. Occasionally, a runner carrying a USA suffix will emerge, while Germany too plays a role. Many winners will have good German female lines, but the numbers of horses born there are more limited.