Well-related debutantes among interesting Chepstow bumper field on Thursday

Sister Saint, a Martaline half-sister to smart chaser Irish Saint, and Artemis Kimbo, a daughter of Saint Des Saints and out of a three-part sister to Santini are set to debut at Chepstow on Thursday (5.05).

The Paul Nicholls-trained Sister Saint is owned by Johnny de la Hey and was bought by Pascale Menard for €35,000 from Arqana's Autumn Sale, when consigned by Marronniers.

The grey is the latest progeny to debut out of the unraced Minirose, who is by Mansonnien and has already produced two high-class performers in Welsh Saint - a Listed-placed performer when third to Protektorat in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day 2020 - and the aforementioned Irish Saint.

Irish Saint, who is by Saint Des Saints, won seven times under rules for the champion trainer, including when landing Grade 2 contests over hurdles and fences, such as Kempton's Adonis Juvenile Hurdle and Pendil Novices' Chase.

The talented gelding also placed in Grade 1s such as the Aintree 4YO Juvenile Hurdle, Henry VIII Novices' Chase, Scilly Isles Novices' Chase and Mildmay Novices' Chase.

Sister Saint is related to two further winners in Dark Invader and Cool Saint.

The five-year-old will face another well-bred rival in the Dan Skelton-trained Artemis Kimbo, Stuart and Shelly Parkin's daughter of Saint Des Saints and out of a close relation to Gold Cup second and Grade 1-winning hurdler Santini.

Racecard

Bred by Rbr Bloodstock and Little Lodge Farm, Artemis Kimbo sold to Parkin for £55,000 at the Goffs UK Summer Sale in 2020 before she was withdrawn from the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale later that year.

She is the first foal out of the unraced Kayf Tara mare Early Dawne, a close relation to the Gold Cup second and Cotswold Chase winner, as well as a half-sibling to the Grade 2-placed hurdler Dusky Legend, by Midnight Legend, and Grade 2 Bristol Novices' Hurdle scorer Rockpoint.

Other notables in the bumper include Anubhuti, Annabel Waley-Cohen and family's Blue Bresil half-sister to useful winners Jameson and All The Answers; Etoile Brillante, a Sholokhov half-sibling to Grade 2-placed AQPS performer Hercule Point; and River Of Joy, a daughter of Universal out of Listed bumper and hurdles scorer Big Time Billy.

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