Sire sons help spread the Montjeu influence across jumping sphere

It isn’t beyond the realms of imagination that Montjeu would have become the most successful sire in Derby history had he lived longer than his 16 years. As it is, with four Derby winners to his credit - Motivator, Authorized, Pour Moi and Camelot - he jointly holds the record alongside Sir Peter Teazle (born 1784), Waxy (b.1790), Cyllene (b.1895) and Blandford (b.1919).

Like his sire Sadler’s Wells and damsire Top Ville before him, however the late Coolmore stallion is developing into a terrific influence over jumps - so much so that he featured as the paternal grandsire of four winners at last week’s Cheltenham Festival, more than any other branch of any other winning sire-line.

Authorized, an accomplished sire on the Flat for Darley, was the only stallion to sire more than one winner during the week. His high point came courtesy of Nichols Canyon’s victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle while former Triumph Hurdle hero Tiger Roll returned to winning ways in the JT McNamara National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase. Incidentally, both horses are inbred to Sadler’s Wells.