Flemensfirth crowned champion

Vintage 2017-18 National Hunt seasons in Britain and Ireland finished on a high on Saturday, with Beeches Stud resident Flemensfirth being crowned champion sire.

Progeny of the outstanding son of Alleged amassed £2,594,592 in earnings, according to Racing Post statistics, to capture the British and Irish sires’ championship.

It has been another outstanding season for the wonderfully-consistent Flemensfirth, whose progeny shone at G1 level over fences, hurdles and in bumpers.

His chasing flagbearers included the Ruth Jefferson-trained Waiting Patiently (7g Flemensfirth-Rossavon, by Beneficial) winner of the G1 Betfair Ascot Chase in February and a hugely-exciting prospect for next season.

Hurdling stars include Poetic Rhythm (7m Flemensfirth-Sommer Sonnet, by Taipan), who captured the G1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury, while he dominated the championship bumper events.

The Willie Mullins-trained Relegate (5m Flemensfirth-Last Of The Bunch, by Silver Patriarch) captured the G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival while her stablemate Tornado Flyer (5g Flemensfirth-Mucho Macabi, by Exceed And Excel) landed the G1 Champion INH Flat Race at this week’s Punchestown Festival.

Flemensfirth is standing for €15,000 in 2018 at The Beeches Stud.