Half-brother to Grade 2 scorer Let's Dance set to make bumper debut

Two well-bred runners are set to make their bumper debuts within ten minutes of each other on Saturday.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Lad Of Luck will face older opposition when he has his first start in the bumper at Chepstow at 5.20pm.

Bred by Phoenix Eventing, the four-year-old son of Soldier Of Fortune is a half-brother to Let's Dance, who won a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Leopardstown in December, and is out of the Listed-winning hurdler Baraka Du Berlais.

Trained by Robert Collet, Baraka Du Berlais was second to Gold Cup hero Long Run in a Grade 2 hurdle at Auteuil in 2008, and was second to three-time Grade 1 chase scorer Rubi Ball in a Grade 3 hurdle at the same course the following spring.

She is a half-sister to Listed chase winner Bacchus Du Berlais, and also has a three-year-old filly and a two-year-old colt, both by Turgeon.

Pricey pointer set to make debut

Gordon Elliott is set to unleash the pricey point-to-point winner Empire Burleque in the bumper at Fairyhouse ten minutes earlier at 5.10pm.

Trained by Paul Power, the five-year-old gelding was successful on his first start in a point-to-point at Ballindenisk in December, and was subsequently bought for £92,000 by Mags O'Toole at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham December Sale.

He had previously gone through the ring as a two-year-old when sold by Lumville Farm to Peter O'Dwyer for €24,000 at the Derby Sale in 2014.

Bred by Shadwell, the son of Cape Cross is out of Mowazana, a maiden winner over 1m2f on the Flat, from the family of Group 2-winning sprinter Rangali and Irish St Leger winner Ibn Bey.

Mowazana has also produced a three-year-old colt by Raven's Pass named Yulong Xionghu and a two-year-old colt by Farhh.