Elation for burgeoning breeder Jack Fogarty after Myretown's Cheltenham Festival romp

Burgeoning breeder Jack Fogarty understandably remains in a state of elation after seeing Myretown canter 11 lengths clear of his rivals in last week's Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. 

Making it three wins from five starts over fences for Lucinda Russell, the gelding has posted career-best efforts in his last three completed starts with the promise of plenty more to come. Having finished fourth in his sole bumper at Hexham in October 2022, he then had around 18 months off the track before landing a hurdle on his third start at Ayr. 

Sporting the same red silks of Carron Wymer and Peter Russell as the uber talented but mercurial Grade 1 winner Ahoy Senor, this fellow son of Dylan Thomas won with the authority to suggest he might easily be able to follow in his footsteps and end up in Gold Cups and Aintree Bowls.

The strapping gelding was bred by Fogarty in partnership with his uncle, Thomas Bourke, under the Longrove Stud banner of Fogarty's other uncle John Bourke and his wife, Caroline. He was sold by the Tipperary farm to shrewd outfit Oneliner Stables for €16,500 as a foal at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale.

The intervening years would see him miss a store sale engagement but later post an impressive victory on his second point-to-point start for Robert Tyner and David Cotter, after which he would make £135,000 to Russell and Tom Malone at the Goffs UK Spring Sale in 2022.

An accountant by trade, Fogarty had previously managed to fit in experience with some blue-chip racing figures, which perhaps somewhat explains his eagle eye for all things bloodstock too. 

Having bred Myretown and his exciting Ocovango half-brother Dalston Lad, he also has his name besides Good And Clever, Warren Greatrex's Soldier Of Fortune gelding who must be among the very best maiden hurdlers in training. He finished a good third to Potters Charm in the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle and was then ambitiously taken to Leopardstown to fill the same position behind Kopek Des Bordes in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle, albeit beaten by 22 lengths by the subsequent Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner. 

Fogarty says: "From an early age, I did a lot of hunting and cross country. Every chance I got, I went down to John’s [Bourke] especially on weekends and summer holidays from school. From there I went to Mouse Morris’s, it was brilliant and he’s a great target trainer. I then spent a couple of years during weekends and holidays from college working at Ballydoyle which was a phenomenal experience as well as working on the stud side at Coolmore. 

"I also did the Horse Racing Ireland summer internship as a finance intern, which was a great experience."

There was plenty to recommend about Myretown before he even hit the racecourse proper as a certain Derek O'Connor heaped plenty of praise on the horse after partnering him to a five and a half length strike at Dromahane in April 2022.

With pride, Fogarty says: "Derek O'Connor said Myretown was the best five-year-old he'd ridden that year - how right he was."

Myretown is out of the unraced Oscar mare Miss Platinum, a half-sister to dual Grade 1-winning chaser Strong Platinum who beat Sound Man and Imperial Call in the 1995 Powers Gold Cup.

He is therefore a close relation to the useful Gone Platinum, by Mountain High, as well as other winners including A Fine Young Man, although he is to date the highest-rated performer. It is a family which has been nurtured over generations since Fogarty's grandmother Kathleen Bourke bought Goldiane in the late 1960s from her brother. 

Myretown's more immediate family has made the headlines in recent months although one came in sad circumstances. Abuffalosoldier, out of a Presenting half-sister to Myretown, was a highly talented staying chaser who collapsed shortly after winning a valuable prize at Cheltenham in November. 

Dan Skelton's Dalston Lad is another promising member of the familyCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

There have been happier times too, with Dalston Lad winning his Dromhane point by six lengths last April before selling to Ryan Mahon and Dan Skelton for €115,000 at the Goffs Punchestown Sale that May. The five-year-old won his first two bumpers easily before finishing 15th in last week's Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. 

Fogarty continues: "I think a good National Hunt pedigree will always find its way back to the top. This page has come back to prominence again with Myretown and Abuffalosoldier, as well as Myretown's half-brother, Dalston Lad, who ran in the Champion Bumper. I think he'll keep progressing into a very nice horse. Lucinda, Peter [Scudamore] and the whole team have done an amazing job with Myretown."

There looks to be plenty more chapters in this story as Myretown could be set for a Grade 1 tilt in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree. The team also has a couple of Myretown's relations to breed from, including his Getaway half-sister Three Queens who is carrying to the exciting Affinisea, as well as Adderstonlee, dam of the aforementioned Abuffalosoldier, who has a three-year-old by Jet Away who will head to the store sales this year. 

With the ambition of breeding a Cheltenham Festival winner ticked off for Fogarty, there could still be more icing on the cake to come.

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