Le Vent D'Antan, with Mikey Fogarty up, sprints clear at Leopardstown© Photo Healy Racing
Her prowess at producing cracking young prospects is not in question at this stage following on from Al Ferof, Cheltenian and more recently Mac's Return. Well Liz Doyle unleashed another horse that we'll likely be hearing plenty more of as the well-touted favourite Le Vent D'Antan delivered in good style in the concluding www.leopardstown.com (Pro/Am) Flat Race under Mikey Fogarty.
In the ground this wasn't an easy task for these youngsters but Le Vent D'Antan travelled well and showed a good change of gear when asked to win his race, going on to beat Private Treasure by six lengths.
Doyle revealed: "We bought him as a yearling in France and his grandmother is Pebbles – which is very interesting.
"He won a schooling bumper on heavy ground and everyone was wanting to know what he was.
"A group of friends of my sister's, in London, asked me if I had a horse that might end up in Cheltenham, a few years ago, and I said I did, but he was only two at the time and they would have to wait 13 or 14 months on him. They did it and here we are.
"It was a major inconvience for him to come racing today as all he does is eat and sleep. That's good for a Martaline though as some of them can be hot.
"I'd say he'll go straight to Cheltenham and have a racecourse gallop somewhere. He's very mature and forward and wouldn't be like the normal gangly Irish four-year-old. He'll be mature as anything there.
"A better race would suit him and a little better ground. Everything he's done since he arrived in the yard has been exceptional but until they put it in ink you never know. He's done that now.
"He works as well as Cheltenian –he always screamed that he was a good horse – while Al Ferof was quieter."
The gelding looks sure to attract interest from some big owners but Doyle added:- "It's a very enthusiastic syndicate and we'll just enjoy today."
Stan James make Le Vent D'Antan their clear 6/1 favourite for the Cheltenham Bumper but Paddy Powers go 14s.
Tom O'Brien got a 2 day ban for the whip on the third home here, Dawerann (GC & EM)
