THIS is the seventh season at stud for Imperial Monarch, a son of Galileo, closely related to Oscar, who was unbeaten as a two-year-old and a Group 1 winner at three years, when he scored for the Coolmore syndicate in the Grand Prix de Paris.

He stands at The Beeches Stud in Co Waterford in company with such top and potentially top National Hunt stallions as Flemensfirth, Mahler, Crystal Ocean, Ocavango, Soldier Of Fortune and Wings Of Eagles. He is already sire of several winners on the flat and over hurdles, with his daughter Cill Anna, bought for £115,000 at Doncaster, scoring a hat-trick, including a listed hurdle.