Goldford Stud splashes €62,000 to buy stake in rising jumps sire No Risk At All

One of the marquee lots of the two-day Arqana February mixed sale was a one-fiftieth share in No Risk At All, one of the most coveted jumps stallions in France.

With the wind very much in his sails off the back of numerous successes in Britain, Ireland and France, the 13-year-old son of My Risk will commence his eighth season at Haras de Montaigu at €7,000, having covered a book of 119 mares in 2019.

Richard and Sally Aston of Goldford Stud have taken the view that the best could yet be to come, given that No Risk At All's first crop are only six, and on Wednesday they won out at €62,000 in bidding for the share in the stallion, who they have already supported.

"We use him and we're very fond of the team at Montaigu," said Richard Aston. "We used [former Montaigu resident] Martaline for a number of years and we've followed this horse's progress. We feel his progress has been exceptional.

"He’s still young in National Hunt terms and we thought it was a good opportunity to get involved."

Among No Risk At All's flagbearers away from his homeland are Grade 1 winners Epatante and Esprit Du Large, as well as promising novice chaser Allaho, all conceived as part of his first crop at a fee of €2,500.

His progeny have also rung the tills recently at the sales, with Henrietta Knight the latest to fall for his charms when paying £370,000 on behalf of Mike Grech for bumper winner Keskonrisk at Goffs last month.

Esprit Du Large is one of his sire's major flagbearers in BritainCredit: Mark Cranham

More broadly, Aston said the stud's purchase of the share was underpinned by faith in French jumping stock.

"If you can't beat them, join them," said Aston. "The French have been producing high class horses for some time, it’s not just a recent trend - you think back to the middle of the last century and Deep Run. It opens fresh markets to us and you can sell a French stallion on the corner of every street.

"I think French horses have advantages in that they mature earlier, they are trained earlier and produced earlier. That's now an accepted good thing, and the appeal for us over here is that France has a lot of high class stallions. There is a desperate need here for outcrosses to all the Sadler’s Wells mares."

Aston added: "It’s a cost, but we believe if you have the right mares and breed the right stock you will get the premium price."

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