Christopher McKeever, who bred last week’s Champion Bumper winner The Mourne Rambler, is still riding high after his Cheltenham triumph.
The Noel Meade-trained son of Well Chosen, ridden by multiple Irish Champion Flat jockey Colin Keane, was an impressive winner of the Grade 2 contest. McKeever, who’s been friends with Meade for 60 years, spoke to TDN Europe about the joy of breeding a Cheltenham Festival winner.
“I was here at home with the dog, my wife and a friend of mine. I got two phone calls before he’d even pulled up and I had to go outside. I just couldn’t believe it. I was amazed. To be honest, it’s only sinking in now. But I do know that the whole parish and the local towns all backed him. Here, when you hit on a good horse like that, everybody owns him.
‘All breeders are gamblers and dreamers, really’ – McKeever
McKeever confessed he isn’t a gambler thus didn’t back him, but he said: “all breeders are gamblers and dreamers, really. We gamble to get the right foal and we dream of getting a Grade 1 winner. All breeders are the same and I’m no different from anybody else. I’m just very, very lucky. That’s what I am. I’m extremely lucky and blessed to have a mare like Lobinstown Girl.”
Though a nine-raced maiden herself, Lobinstown Girl has had excellent success as a broodmare. All her five offspring have been trained by Noel Meade and four are by Well Chosen. The highest rated horse was Sixshooter, who placed in two Grade 2’s over hurdles in the Gigginstown Stud colours.
She also bred a good mare in She’s A Star, a five time winner under rules. She herself is the dam of Colcannon, a Grade 2 bumper winner for Noel Meade.
Cheltenham double for Well Chosen stallion
Though not the most fashionable stallion, The Mourne Rambler’s success a double for Well Chosen at the Cheltenham Festival. €120,000 store Old Park Star won the first leg, kicking off the week with an impressive performance in the Supreme.
“Well Chosen does not breed commercial foals” continued McKeevey. “That was his problem. He wasn’t throwing sales horses, but he was throwing racehorses. He just wasn’t what they wanted and I couldn’t understand it because his record was fantastic.”
Meade has another son of Well Chosen named Islria, who could make his debut soon. “I think he is a stronger horse [than The Mourne Rambler],” McKeever said. “He’s a cracking horse and I think he’ll run in the near future.”