Bristol's Haydock victory keeps up Saddler's red-hot spell

Bristol De Mai's pulverising display in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday provided further evidence, if it were needed, of the huge loss the National Hunt breeding scene suffered when his sire Saddler Maker was lost to a hind leg fracture at Haras de Cercy in May 2016.

In November alone, the small but highly talented band of Saddler Maker's progeny that have found their way into British or Irish yards had already landed the Grade 2 Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle (Apple's Shakira - by 17 lengths); the Listed T A Morris Memorial Mares Chase (Dinaria Des Obeaux - by 22 lengths); the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase (Alpha Des Obeaux); the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle (Apple's Jade) and the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase (Bristol De Mai).

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained grey Bristol De Mai first etched his name into the story of Saddler Maker, who began to gain traction with breeders on a consistent basis as recently as 2012, when he became his sire's first top-flight winner with victory in the Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in 2014.

Having put a remarkable 57 lengths between himself and runner-up Cue Card on Saturday, Bristol De Mai bettered the winning distance achieved by his sire's other Grade 1 winner, with Apple's Jade having sauntered to a 41-length success in the Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle during last year's Grand National meeting.

Given that Saddler Maker progeny are garnering a reputation for producing wide-margin winning performances it could well pay to keep an eye on a number of unexposed horses who should be appearing during the National Hunt season.

According to Weatherbys data Saddler Maker currently has nine sons and daughters registered in training in Britain, with David Pipe's Duc De Beauchene and Nicky Henderson's Chef Des Obeaux both looking prime candidates to improve on what they have shown so far.

There are seven Saddler Maker offspring registered as in training in Ireland, with Paul Nolan's four-year-old Discorama, who ran second in a Thurles bumper on debut in March, appealing as the type with much more in his locker.

There is also Defi Bleu, who Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins acquired for €255,000 at the 2016 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, waiting in the wings.

The four-year-old is now in the care of Gordon Elliott and made his debut between the flags in an Oldtown four-year-old maiden in February, when he was second to the ill-fated Flemenshill, who was subsequently bought by Tom Malone and Joe Tizzard for £480,000.