Redoubtable sire Network supplies stakes race double

Network recorded a stakes race double at Navan on Sunday, with Ball D’Arc landing the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase and Acapella Bourgeois thrashing his rivals in the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Ball D’Arc was left with just one rival to beat after Ballyoisin departed at the third last fence, with the six-year-old eventually pulling 19 lengths clear of Tully East.

Sunday’s win was the second Graded success for Ball D’Arc, having landed a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas in 2016.

He is out of the Moon Madness mare Pretty Moon, an unraced half-sister to French winners Royal D’Arc, Ukene D’Arc and Val D’Arc, and was bought by the late Dessie Hughes from the 2014 Goffs Land Rover Sale for €80,000.

Later on the card Network was represented by the seven-year-old Acapella Bourgeois, who stormed home an unextended 32 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer having pressed on as early as the fourth fence.

Bred by Jean-Paul and Michele Bannier and trained by Sandra Hughes, Acapella Bourgeois is out of Jasmine, a daughter of Valanjou I that was placed in an AQPS Flat race but failed to cut much ice over fences. He is also a half-brother to the AQPS Flat winner Uzko Bourgeois.

Network, a 20-year-old son of Monsun, stands at Haras D’Enki, alongside Big Buck’s brother Buck’s Boum and Kitkou, at a fee of €10,000.

His most notable performer is the iconic chaser Sprinter Sacre, and he has also sired the likes of Rubi Ball, Rubi Light and Saint Are.