Another Grade 1 winner for Bruno Vagne’s “Allen” clan

HERMES ALLEN is now the 4/1 favourite for the 2m4f Ballymore Novice Hurdle (G1) after a first Grade 1 victory in the Challow Novices Hurdle. He is yet another good horse bred by French breeder Bruno Vagne and boasting an “Allen” suffix.

The son of Poliglote is unbeaten in three racecourse starts, building today on his Grade 2 victory at Cheltenham in November, having finished third in his point-to-point at Rathcannon for trainer Caroline McCaldin, daughter of the leading Irish producer Walter Dennison.

The Vagne-bred gelding was subsequently purchased by Aiden Murphy and Paul Nicholls for £350,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale 2021.

It was a fine present for part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson, celebrating his 81st birthday today.

Jockey Harry Cobden said: “He is a relaxed sort of a ride, going around the bend I was able to take back and turning in I was trying to conserve as much a possible, but he is a sort of mover that would suggest he’d want better ground.”

Part-owner Ged Mason said: “I didn’t expect that, and on that sort of ground, too. This horse does not show too much at home, he has gone to the track and has shown what he can do there. I am chuffed, that’s three on the bounce!

“We are lucky to have a few good ones at the moment, and we will be aiming for Cheltenham with this horse, it will be up to Paul but probably the 2m4f Ballymore. It is nice to think we have got a Cheltenham horse.

“My Mum Margaret Mason has had an operation today and is in recovery mode. She loves the horse and is the biggest fan.”

Hermes Allen is the first foal out of the Assessor mare Une Destine, winner of a Grade 3 chase in France. All the Vagne-bred horses carry the Allen suffic, and include the likes of Envoi Allen, Espoir D’Allen and Eldarado Allen.