All eyes on unbeaten Regent's Stroll as £660,000 Goffs UK transfer makes hurdling debut at Newbury

Our resident bloodstock experts profile the well-bred eyecatchers and expensive purchases set to grace the track.

Regent's Stroll

Play Coral "Racing-Super-Series" For Free "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle (12.15 Newbury, Friday)

What's the story?

This race has a pretty decent roll of honour, with dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur d'Air and multiple Grade 1 winner Jonbon among recent winners. Connections of Regent's Stroll will be hoping he can become the next winner, particularly given his £660,000 purchase at the Goffs UK Summer Sale in July. 

Having sported the colours of Chris Giles to two easy bumper wins, he went through the ring after the owner dispersed his stock at Doncaster. His six-figure price set a new world record for a National Hunt horse in training and Regent's Stroll is now set to carry Sir Alex Ferguson's silks for a partnership including John Hales, Ged Mason and Neil and Alfie Smith.

How's he bred?

The son of champion jumps sire Walk In The Park is out of the unraced Pretty Puttens, a half-sister to the outstanding 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman and to Silverburn, a dual Grade 1 winner in the Tolworth Novices' Hurdle and Scilly Isles Novices' Chase.

The gelding is a half-brother to Listed bumper scorer Didtheyleaveuoutto and a brother to Are U Wise To That, a dual winner over fences and a winner of a bumper and hurdles contest too. 

Who does he face?

The five-year-old's rivals include Soldier Of Fortune gelding Good And Clever, a 12-length winner of his debut bumper at Southwell before a third-placed finish in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree. He is out of the Gamut mare Grangeclare Rosa, a half-sister to Grade 2 Tipperary Hurdle scorer and Hatton's Grace third Scarthy Lad and multiple Graded-winning hurdler Grangeclare Lark. 

Nicky Henderson won this race with the aforementioned Buveur d'Air and Jonbon and saddles Ferando, a Westerner gelding from the family of the top-class Azertyuiop.

Read more

'He’s spent a lot of money so we’re hoping we’re in for a good year' - footballer Ryan Kent strikes again at Tattersalls with 200,000gns Mehmas filly 

Good Morning Bloodstock is our unmissable email newsletter. Leading bloodstock journalist Martin Stevens provides his take and insight on the biggest stories every morning from Monday to Friday.