KING’S Theatre reigns again as the champion National Hunt sire for 2015-16. The former Ballylinch Stud stallion, a Group 1 winner at two and three and a son of Sadler’s Wells, was bred to be a champion sire.

While his racing performances and pedigree suggested he would take high order among the flat stallions, he will forever be remembered as one of the most influential sires of National Hunt performers. That said, he did get the Grade 1 winner King’s Drama, Group 2 Australian winners Royal Code and I Rock My World, and the Group 3 winners Young Mick, Red Rioja and King’s Ironbridge on the level. His listed winning son Great Pretender is now a leading NH sire of Ptit Zig and Mr Mole.