First Grade 1 winner for Getaway as Verdana Blue denies Buveur D'Air

Verdana Blue sprang a surprise in the Unibet Christmas Hurdle at Kempton when denying the 1-4 favourite Buveur D'Air, to give her sire an important first Grade 1 winner.

The six-year-old mare completed a Grade 1 treble on the day for stallion sons of Monsun, with Network on the mark through Le Richebourg in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown, and Arcadio getting on the scoresheet courtesy of Hardline, who beat another odds-on favourite, Getabird, in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase at Limerick.

Bred by her former trainer Edmond Kent, Verdana Blue was the second mare to win a Grade 1 on the day at Kempton after La Bague Au Roi, a daughter of Doctor Dino, emerged on top in the 32Red Kauto Star Novices' Chase, and is the first mare to win the Christmas Hurdle since Feathard Lady in 2005, when the race was run at Sandown.

Watch Verdana Blue made her Grade 1 breakthrough at Kempton

"Verdana Blue was a queen, she was always really good looking with a lovely temperament," said Kent, who had been out riding and had yet to watch the race replay.

"To breed a Grade 1 winner at this time of year is fantastic and to beat Buveur D'Air - I couldn't see it happening."

Kent already plans to attend the Cheltenham Festival should Verdana Blue take up either of her engagements in the Unibet Champion Hurdle and OLBG Mares' Hurdle.

The breeder previously visited the festival every year when Denman competed as he broke in and pre-trained the late jumps star.

Verdana Bluewas purchased by Highflyer Bloodstock from Kent's Ballyhampshire Stud in County Cork after her success for the trainer in a Killarney bumper as a four-year-old, and is one of three winners out of the Bluebird mare Blue Gallery together with Blues And Twos and Wilde Blue Yonder.

Female success runs in the family as Blue Gallery is a half-sister to Lartigue Hurdle-winning mare Dyrick Daybreak, who is the dam of Mr Whipped, a smart novice chase prospect who shares his trainer Nicky Henderson with Verdana Blue.

"I consigned Blue Gallery as a foal for her breeder Michael Ryan of Al Eile Stud," said Edmont Kent. "And I ended up buying her at Doncaster as a winning two-year-old and covered her with Beat All, who stood at my brother Richard's Mickley Stud at the time."

Verdana Blue is the seventh and final foal out of Blue Gallery, who left stud in 2014.

"Her mother sadly had an accident in the paddock, when she was kicked by another mare while in foal," said Kent.

Getaway, also the sire of dual Grade 2 hurdle winner Getabird, will remain at a €7,500 fee for the 2019 breeding season at Grange Stud, under the Coolmore National Hunt banner.

Verdana Blue: lunged late to deny Buveur D'Air in the Christmas HurdleCredit: Michael Steele

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