Double the joy for Munir and Souede as homebred Fusil Raffles lands Adonis

Owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede had double the cause for celebration after Fusil Raffles demolished his 12 rivals in the Grade 2 888Sport Take 'Em On Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday, having also bred the hugely impressive four-year-old.

Fusil Raffles is by Haras d'Etreham resident Saint Des Saints, a son of Cadoudal who showed high-class form over jumps himself, notably when winning the Grade 2 Prix Amadou for Guillaume Macaire, who also oversaw the early career of Fusil Raffles.

Saint Des Saints is perhaps best known as the sire of the high-class Djakadam, who landed back-to-back John Durkan Memorial chases and who also finished in the frame in the Cheltenham Gold Cups won by Don Cossack and Coneygree.

He is also the sire of talented French chaser Whetstone and has a previous winner of the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle on his roll of honour in Irish Saint.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Fusil Raffles is now among the leading fancies for the juvenile contests at the Cheltenham Festival. Should he head to Prestbury Park he will bid to follow in the footsteps of other progeny of Saint Des Saints to strike at jumps racing's flagship meeting, such as Coral Cup winner Aux Ptits Soins and Byrne Group Plate scorer Salut Flo.

He is the second foal out of Tali Des Obeaux, a daughter of Panoramic who picked up black type when twice finishing runner-up in Listed events at Autueil.

Tali Des Obeaux, a half-sister to the dam of World Hurdle runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux, was sold as part of the Munir and Souede dispersal sale held at Arqana last December, where Highflyer Bloodstock - the agency run by Munir and Souede's racing manager Anthony Bromley - signed for her at €20,000.

Fusil Raffles' success also means that another major race has gone the way of a horse by a stallion who competed over jumps, after Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase winner Nickname supplied wide-margin Ascot Chase hero Cyrname last Saturday.

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