'He was a great servant and we also did our best for him' - Cloudings dies at 29

The Old Road Stud has announced the death of its successful National Hunt stallion Cloudings at the age of 29.

James and Marian Hannon's County Waterford operation had stood the veteran grey since 2005 and he had the distinction of being the sire of one of the most popular recent Grand National winners in Many Clouds, who galloped to Aintree glory in 2015. That same season he landed the Hennessy (now Coral) Gold Cup at Newbury and the Cotswold Chase.

Many Clouds' owner, the late Trevor Hemmings, was a staunch supporter of Cloudings, breeding the likes of Ultima and Peter Marsh Chase winner Vintage Clouds as well as Cloudy Lane, whose victories included the Kim Muir and Aintree Foxhunters', and the 2021 Newbury big-race winner Cloudy Glen. Another in those same colours was the smart novice chaser Cloudy Dream.

"James and myself have had to make a decision which was quite difficult," said Marian Hannon.

"We have had to put Cloudings, at 29 years of age, to sleep. We are consoling ourselves that he had enjoyed his retirement. He was a great servant to us and we in turn did our best for him.

Grand National hero Many Clouds was Cloudings' most famous sonCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"He was such a good sire, he bred all sorts of winners but particularly chasers at top-class level."

Bred by Calogo Bloodstock and M3 Elevage, Cloudings was a son of Sadler's Wells out of a winning daughter of the 1964 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Royal Danseuse.

He would win three times in a lightly raced career for Andre Fabre and Sheikh Mohammed, most notably landing the Group 1 Prix Lupin at Longchamp before running disappointingly in Benny The Dip's Derby.

Cloudings stood at Shade Oak Stud in Britain before his move to Ireland, where he was largely registered at a private fee.

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