Wednesday 30 August 2017

Presenting: Star stallion's five best progeny

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The racing world lost a brilliant sire in Presenting. He's had numerous winners on the jumps and flat, and has bred some of our greatest horses in recent years.

Trained by John Gosden, he was a classy horse at two and three. He won six times from ten races, winning most notably the Group Two Geoffery Freer in 1995. A Derby third, his main glory was to come in the breeding barn.

James Stevens look at five of his jumping progeny best.

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Denman
A true Cheltenham great, Denman firmly cemented Presenting's reputation as a top stallion. Paul Nicholls' enjoyed plenty of success at the Festival, winning the RSA Chase in 2007, and finishing a runner-up in Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle the previous year. He won the Hennessy twice, including a top-weight success, and enjoyed four Grade One victories.

Denman's defining moment came in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup, as Paul Nicholls' star came out on top against the great Kauto Star, winning in unforgettable style by seven lengths. His Gold Cup victory is one of the best in recent years. He ran well to finish second for the next two years.

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Ballabriggs
Ballabriggs was a popular Grand National winner for Donald McCain and Jason Maguire, and added more success to Presenting's sire record. He won Aintree's famous steeplechase in 2011, but a year ago was a Cheltenham Festival winner. He won the Kim Muir in 2010, and proved one of the most popular National winners in recent years. Siring sons to win a Gold Cup and Grand National established Presenting as a leading figure in the breeding world.

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War Of Attrition
Trained by Mouse Morris, War Of Attrition is best known for his 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup glory. A season before his Festival glory, he finished a disappointing seventh in the Arkle, but went on to strike at the top level at Punchestown. He defeated a good field in the Gold Cup, landing the feature race ahead of Hedgehunter, before striking once again at the top level. He remains one of the best sons of Presenting.


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First Lieutenant
One of the Festival's great servants throughout the last few years has been First Lieutenant. He was winner of the Neptune in 2011, beating eventual Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby by a narrow short head. The following year he found only Bobs Worth too good in the Gold Cup, before Cue Card beat him by nine lengths in the Ryanair.

Although the Mouse Morris-trained star is well-known for finishing second, he was a three time Grade One winner and a top horse.

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Yorkhill 
Yorkhill remains one of Willie Mullins' leading prospects in the yard, with two Festival wins already to his name. He justified odds-on favouritism to win the Neptune last year, before winning the JLT Novices' Chase this year. He is a four-time Grade One winner, and could be the main Gold Cup contender from Mullins' Closutton yard. He was a narrow loser at Punchestown last time out, but has plenty of good days ahead.


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