Messire des Obeaux rolls back the years at Warwick

February 12

Two winners at Warwick on Saturday. plus five encouraging week-end places, helped Alan enjoy his Sunday lunch, and, doubtless, he got a great kick from watching the video of Messire des Obeaux‘s success when he returned home from Newbury.

It was a case of rolling back the years watching the 11-year-old Messire des Obeaux battle home by a neck on the Midlands course.

The popular stable veteran has had almost as many problems as the UK government these last few seasons, but, scoring his first success since he captured the Dipper Chase at Wincanton two years ago, he proved that there was nothing wrong with his heart when digging deep to reel in Knight of Dubai in the dying strides.

Messire des Obeaux may not be the force he was when he won the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury in 2016, but, showing marked improvement from his reappearance at Wincanton last month, he showed that the fire was still in his belly here.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said:”Messire des Obeaux means an awful lot to everyone at Barbury – they have really nursed this horse, who is a bit fragile and even before his novice chase season had been off the track for the best part of 1000 days.

“Nobody can dispute that the enthusiasm is still there and we still send him off to the start early in his races just to keep the lid on him. He simply loves his racing.

“Alan has put a lot into this horse and I know how much this success will mean to him. There is around £20,000 to the winner, which pays for around a year of training fees, so this is a great result for everyone.

“We have tried him at three miles, but two and a half is his trip. Maybe there will be something at Aintree for him, as he prefers a Flat track, ”

Winning jockey Daryl Jacob said:”Alan is a master to get Messire des Obeaux back in the winner’s enclosure after a series of injuries and enforced layoffs. He has trained the horse brilliantly, but he had so much potential in his younger days, and is a great credit to the team.”

Alan closed the Warwick card with another winner, courtesy of Favour And Fortune, who justified favouritism in the bumper.

Stable jockey Tom Cannon was “very impressed”. He added:”That was some performance under a penalty from winning at Southwell. Favour and Fortune has won what did not look a bad bumper on paper by seven and a half lengths.

“He certainly looks above-average, and he could have a bright future. Who knows you might see him at Cheltenham or Aintree.

“I got the split turning for home and he was very honest and straight-forward, galloping all the way through the line. He is a powerful individual and learning all the time, but it helps that he has such a big engine.”