Sire Du Belais (left) with French Dynamite© Photo Healy Racing
J.P. McManus' dual Cheltenham festival-winner Sire Du Berlais reappeared at Navan today with a first Irish win in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle, scoring for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Mark Walsh.
The French bred son of Poliglote could be described as a typical McManus 'plot' horse, having gained his only wins in Britain or Ireland in the plottiest of races - the Pertemps Final, at two Cheltenham festivals and today made his seasonal reappearance over an inadequate 2m4f.
However the eight year old showed his talent to wear down leader French Dynamite on the run-in and eventually beat the Mouse Morris trained rival by half a length.
Sire Du Berlais was later cut to 10/1 for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham and following the race Elliott acknowledged “our hand could be forced and he has no choice really now but to go for a Grade 1.
“Obviously I'll have to speak to Frank (Berry) and JP but I'd imagine the three-mile race at Christmas would be the place to go with him now.”
He added “it was a good performance. Mark (Walsh) said he needed the whole length of the straight to get there, he wants three miles.
“He's been a great little horse around the yard. The Stayers Hurdle would look the race for him long-term.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
