Exciting Vadamos Gelding Enhances Cheltenham Claims With Kempton Win

Baron Noir (6g Vadamos - Scooping, by Dylan Thomas) made it two wins from three starts over hurdles with a cosy display at Kempton on Saturday.

The Alan King-trained runner had won twice in bumpers last term, as well as placing in a Listed Newbury contest, while he started his hurdling career this season with a second to the unbeaten Cristal d'Estruval (by Crystal Ocean) at Warwick in November.

Baron Noir then justified odds-on favouritism with victory at Uttoxeter last month and followed up with a two-and-a-half-length score at Kempton under Tom Bellamy.

Attentions will now turn to the gelding’s target at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Noel Fehily of ownership group the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate said: “We’ve always thought the world of him, but they have to go and do it and I’ve not wanted to talk him up too much.

“I think he showed there today he travels plenty strong enough, and in fact today they didn’t take him along far enough or fast enough and he got a bit idle in front, but I think he’s a hell of a good horse and there will be more to come.

“First time out, Alan made us well aware he would need it and the ground was quite quick. He was running under-cooked and ran well against decent horses and in the spring, on spring ground, I think you will see a very good horse.

“Cheltenham is Cheltenham and he will be going there next, I think. He’s had three runs and I don’t think he needs another and I’ll see what Alan says, but I would say he will probably go straight to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

“We’ll put him in both the Supreme and the Turners, but he looks like a Supreme horse to me anyway.”

Baron Noir was bred by Shane Lawlor and Mary Butterfield.