The jumps season gets properly underway on Friday with the first major meeting of the year, the three-day Open Meeting at Cheltenham.
In keeping with tradition, kicking off proceedings in Gloucestershire on Friday morning will be the annual TBA National Hunt Stallion Parade, which starts at 11am in the main parade ring.
Some of the best British-based proven National Hunt and dual-purpose sires will be on show, including the Arc winner and Derby runner-up Sakhee, who is a new recruit David and Theresa Futter’s Yorton Farm. The sire of Classic winner Tin Horse and Grade 1-winning juvenile hurdler Grumeti has moved to Shropshire from his original base at Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud.
Joining Sakhee in the parade are Alkaased, who recently returned from Japan to stand at Kelanne Stud in Hampshire, Vauterhill Farm’s Arvico, Galileo’s full-brother Black Sam Bellamy, and Brian Boru, who will be standing at Dunraven Stud in Wales in 2013 having transferred from Ireland.
Also on show are Batsford Stud’s Kutub, Sakhee’s new stable-mate Malinas, Phoenix Reach of Mickley Stud, Prince Flori, and Schiaparelli.
The parade coincides with the launch of the second HBLB/TBA Elite National Hunt Mares Incentive Scheme, which rewards the owners of proven mares, both on the racecourse or at stud, by offering them heavily discounted nomination fees to British-based stallions supporting the scheme.
A nomination to each stallion on parade has been donated by the horse’s owner and they will be available via a silent auction, to be held in the TBA marquee at 4pm.
