SAINT Des Saints is 24 years of age and this year he will cover mares at a fee of €15,000, one of the most expensive National Hunt sires standing anywhere. He is also worth every cent.

His most recent blacktype winner, Gentleman De Mee, was, by my count, his 80th blacktype winner, a simply phenomenal achievement for a stallion standing in France and covering the books he does, which are very much smaller than the numbers serviced in Ireland and England by the leading sires. Of those numbers, a baker’s dozen have won at Grade 1 level and they include Gaillard Du Mesnil, Djakadam, Quito De La Roque and Quel Esprit.

Printing out the pedigree of the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase winner Gentleman De Mee reveals something of the influence Saint Des Saints, a son of Cadoudal (Green Dancer), has on a pedigree. The first four dams of the Willie Mullins-trained, J.P. McManus-owned six-year-old all fit on a single page, while the list of his sire’s blacktype winners takes a page and a half!!

That is not to imply that there is anything wrong with the female side of the pedigree. Far from it.

Gentleman De Mee was originally trained by Guillaume Macaire and was placed second on both of his outings in France. He then sold for €280,000 at the Arqana Mixed Sale in the autumn of 2018, and moved to Willie Mullins. Connections have taken a long-term view of the gelding who this year will have his sights set on Punchestown rather than Cheltenham.

Judi Dench

Gentleman De Mee sold at Arqana six years after his half-brother As De Mee (Kapgarde) realised €200,000 and he went on to become a Grade 3 winner over hurdles and was placed a couple of times at Grade 1 level over fences.

He also won the Grand Sefton Chase over the Aintree fences and carried the colours of The Stewart Family and Dame Judi Dench.

As De Mee and Gentleman De Mee are two of the five winners to date for Koeur De Mee (Video Rock), herself twice successful on the flat at four. In fact, Willie Mullins trained one of the other winners, Defy De Mee (Country Reel), though he was not to saddle him to a victory. Harold Kirk paid €190,000 for Defy De Mee after he won in France, but he was disappointing after moving to Closutton. That experience did not deter Willie from taking on his sibling.