Proving that profitable horses are available each form and dimension is “18hh-plus” big racehorse Jeannot Lapin.
The towering chestnut point-to-pointer, who had didn’t win in three begins in Eire, was purchased by proprietor Dominic Jones for simply £3,000 on the Doncaster gross sales.
He made his racecourse debut for coach Gearoid O’Loughlin in a 2m 1f chase at Leopardstown not too long ago at odds of 150/1 and, ridden by Ricky Doyle, he cruised residence to win by two-and-a-half lengths, leaving a area of elegant rivals trailing in his wake.
Connections haven’t been capable of precisely examine the peak of the French-bred six-year-old son of Physician Dino as a result of their measuring stick solely goes as much as 17.3hh, however their greatest guess was that he was 1 / 4 of an inch over 18hh.
“He felt at residence like he was a correct horse – for a small yard anyway – I’m positive if he’d been in Willie Mullins’s or an even bigger yard, he’d have simply been some other horse,” stated O’Loughlin, who trains largely pointers and does pre-training from his small yard at Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. “He’s a little bit of a stand-out in our yard for the time being anyway.
“I didn’t assume he’d win a newbie’s chase spherical Leopardstown within the early days, however as we acquired nearer, as much as the final two months, I felt he was entitled to be there anyway.
“Clearly his value didn’t mirror it however all of us had just a few quid on him at a giant value!” he stated. “Our intention was to be within the first six. So we’re over the moon.
“I stated to Ricky Doyle earlier than the race, he’s an excellent jumper so use his leaping and maintain on to him for so long as you may – I had nothing at residence to take him off the bridle, so he was by no means off it.”
Big racehorse Jeannot Lapin: from the identical household as Epatante
Coach Gearoid O’Loughlin noticed Jeannot Lapin on the Doncaster Gross sales and was interested in his pedigree – his dam Extremely Bonne is out of the identical mare that produced the mighty mare Epatante, a Grade One-winning hurdler for Nicky Henderson.
“Sam Curling [point-to-point trainer, where Jeannot Lapin started his racing career] informed me he had the makings of a very good horse, if you will get him proper,” stated O’Loughlin. “All of it simply got here collectively.”
O’Loughlin initially took him searching to get his qualifying hunter certificates for point-to-points however thought a shorter journey than three miles is likely to be the important thing to the big-framed chestnut gelding.
“His homework was superb. [His owner] Dominic Jones did an excellent job with him over the summer time, fed him and constructed him up,” he defined.
Dominic Jones is not any stranger to shock winners as his horse Sawbuck equalled the file for the longest-priced winner in Britain and Eire when touchdown a maiden hurdle at Punchestown in 2022 at odds of 300/1.
However connections at the moment are very a lot residing the dream with Jeannot Lapin and he’s entered for the Grade One Leopardstown Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Steeplechase in the beginning of February, and the equal race on the Cheltenham Pageant is now a sensible goal.
“It’s a little bit of a narrative, however it’s an excellent story,” summed up O’Loughlin.
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H&H showjumping editor
Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her function as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her world wide reporting from exhibits and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to steady administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian trade as a driving teacher and yard supervisor.
