Champion Chase ace Energumene has much in common with Sceaux

Energumene and Un De Sceaux have a lot more in common than being Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival winners trained by Willie Mullins. For one thing they are both AQPS horses, for another they are by the late French stallion Denham Red, and as if that wasn't enough they are also out of mares by April Night.

Mullins' first Champion Chase winner was bred by Christophe Dubourg along similar lines to his thrilling Ryanair and Arkle Chase winner who was bred by the De La Guillonniere family. They stood Denham Red, also the sire of Grade 1 Prix Maurice Gillois winner Oculi, at their Haras de la Rousseliere in Normandie until his death at the age of 22 in 2014.

Energumene is out of Olinight who won two of her 21 starts for Dubourg and he was on board for her victory at Fontainebleau.

Olinight has a nine-year-old sister to Energumene named Dolinight who won twice last season for Dubourg and has been retired. She also has a six-year-old Honolulu half-sister to the pair named Gold Night.

Energumene was sourced in France as a young horse and sold by Moanmore Stables to Tom Lacey for €50,000 at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.

Alkhaadem makes his mark

Away from the headline-making stallions that enthusiasts are familiar with at the Cheltenham Festival, a less familiar name was enjoying a red-letter day.

Alkaadhem, a 22-year-old son of Green Desert from the family of leading British-based National Hunt sire Kayf Tara, was responsible for Grand Annual Chase winner Global Citizen, who is by far the best horse sired by the Jebel Hatta winner.

Global Citizen is a first Cheltenham winner for AlkaadhemCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Bred by Meon Valley Stud out of Balalaika, a Sadler's Wells sister to Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner Stagecraft, Alkaadhem was bought by Shadwell as a yearling at Tattersalls and trained by Marcus Tregoning for whom he won a Goodwood Group 3 and two Listed contests.

Alkaadhem has stood at Ballycurragh Stud in Carlow for over a decade now and Global Citizen is his best runner so far from small numbers of foals.

The Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase winner was bred by Martin Byrne and trained by William Murphy of Ballycurragh Stud to win a Bellurgan maiden on debut at five. He was sold at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale to Stroud Coleman for £275,000 and is a younger brother to Sandown Listed handicap hurdle winner A Hare's Breath.

Jeremy heads the table at halfway

The late, lamented Jeremy continues to cast a long shadow over National Hunt racing and breeding eight years after his premature death aged just 11.

Sir Gerhard on his way to a second Grade 1 win at CheltenhamCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

With two days of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival completed, the Jersey Stakes winner is the only stallion to sire more than one winner at this year's meeting.

Sir Gerhard's imperious run in the rain provided the former Garryrichard Stud and Irish National Stud sire with his second winner of the week, following on from the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap success of Corach Rambler for Lucinda Russell on Tuesday.

The Ballymore Properties' Novice Hurdle winner was successful in the Champion Bumper last season, one of three winners by Jeremy at the 2021 festival.

His daughter The Glancing Queen has a live chance of adding further lustre to Jeremy's Cheltenham record on Thursday as the Alan King-trained eight-year-old is among the favourites for the Craft Irish Whiskey Plate while Mister Fisher runs in the Ryanair Chase for Nicky Henderson.