Timeform take a look at a handful of stallions whose progeny have produced the goods over the years at Cheltenham… “One French stallion whose progeny always merit respect on these shores is Cadoudal , best known as the sire of Big Buck’s .” One of the clearest trends in National Hunt racing in recent years has been the spectacular success enjoyed by horses imported from France . One need only look at the Timeform ratings for confirmation of this – French-breds currently sit at the top of Timeform’s ratings for staying chasers, two-mile chasers, novice chasers, staying hurdlers, two-mile hurdlers and NH Flat horses. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that French-breds have come to the fore at jumping’s premier event, the Cheltenham Festival. One French stallion whose progeny always merit respect on these shores is Cadoudal , best known as the sire of Big Buck’s . That horse’s victory in last year’s World Hurdle was the third for Cadoudal’s progeny over the last ten Festivals, adding to Fadoudal du Cochet’s win in the 2002 Grand Annual and Majadou’s triumph in the 1999 Mildmay of Flete. There is every chance of that number increasing this year as horses sired by Cadoudal hold decent claims in several races. Big Buck’s obviously spearheads the challenge as he seeks to add another World Hurdle to his collection, while Timeform’s top-rated novice chaser Long Run is towards the head of the markets for both the Arkle and the RSA Chase. The Nightingale (RSA Chase) and Chamirey (Pertemps Final) are two other representatives of Cadoudal who are reportedly heading to Prestbury Park.
