Front page triumph for John Nallen through Minella Times and Indo

It is not only Henry de Bromhead who can lay a claim to the jump season's two great chases. As his name will suggest to those familiar with National Hunt breeding, Randox Grand National hero Minella Times and the Gold Cup king Minella Indo both bear the hallmark of John Nallen.

Nallen, who has the Hotel Minella in Clonmel, buys rough diamonds as foals and turns them into polished gems, with the 2017 Gold Cup runner-up Minella Rocco having been his best-known name prior to this remarkable few weeks.

He bought Minella Times from his Westmeath breeder Cathal Ennis at the Tattersalls Ireland November Sale in 2013 for €31,000, the very same event at which he picked up Minella Indo from Rathkenty Stud for €24,000.

Nallen ran him once in a point at Belclare, when the gelding was leading in a four-year-old maiden before falling at the last.

It was enough to secure a move to De Bromhead and JP McManus, for whom he had won three times in 17 starts before his consummate performance over the National fences for Rachael Blackmore.

Minella Times is a first victory in the great race for his sire Oscar, who had previously managed a second and a fourth with Oscar Times a few years earlier. The former Grange Stud servant is already the sire of Gold Cup winners Lord Windermere, Champion Hurdler Rock On Ruby and decorated performers such as Paisley Park and Big Zeb.

Out of the unraced Anshan mare Triptoshan, who in turn is out of the Irish Listed hurdle winner Triptodicks, Minella Times has only a couple of minor winning siblings so far, but does have Keith Reveley's popular staying chaser Rambling Minster under his fourth dam.

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