THE purple patch enjoyed by male line descendants of Sadler’s Wells (by Northern Dancer) was also evident in England last weekend, where its roll of honour included the Grade 3 Hennessy Gold Cup winner Many Clouds (by Cloudings), a grandson of the great white-faced bay.

Trained by Oliver Sherwood, and carrying the colours of Trevor Hemmings, the seven-year-old was bred by Aidan Aherne, and he is a half-brother to last year’s Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle winner The Tullow Tank (by Oscar).