French Recruits - Bathysseur

This will be a slightly different feel to this French recruit when compared to some of the other prospects that I have covered in the series so far. BATHYSSEUR is a 4-year-old gelding by Bathyrhon who has joined Lucinda Russell from the Vaclav Luka team. A winner on his debut in an amateur riders race at Wissembourg in early May, he made 2 starts for the Luka team, both of which came in Class 4 races for Amateur riders. He unseated on his 2nd start at Saint-Cloud in the early stages when he jinked as they crossed the path, but that shouldn’t detract from what had been a promising start to his career. The Wissembourg race may not have been particularly deep, but he was always in control as he made virtually every yard under Martina Lukova. Shaken up around the final turn, he was slightly green and did run around in front, but he asserted quite comfortably to win b y over 3 lengths. A going description of “Bon Leger” and a 2,8 reading in the penetrometer is fairly close to “Firm” in British terms and so there is a little bit of caution needed with the form of this provincial race, but given the current climate conditions, the fact that he has shown that he can handle faster ground will be no bad thing.

His dam was a winner over hurdles at Senonnes and has produced 3 other winners, including Cheb de Kerviniou, who placed in graded company over fences in France before going Gordon Elliott at the end of his career. Bathyrhon has had a reasonable record with his progeny over obstacles in the UK and Ireland, producing the likes of Katate Dori, Bunting and Frere d’Armes and 43% of his progeny have won over hurdles. He has joined Lucinda Russell for the Trotters International and A&L McLaren partnership and whilst I don’t see him featuring as a Grade 1 novice hurdler, I think in time he has the potential to make up into a decent handicapper for the northern circuit.