French Recruits - Majisco

4-year-old Gelding by Goliath du Berlais

Form: 7-2

Trained by Emmanuel Clayeux

Has joined Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero for JP McManus

Notes: Another National Hunt season may be about to close in the UK and Ireland, but the recruitment process for the 2026-27 campaign is in full swing in France and the latest big purchase to be identified is MAJISCO, who has joined the Greenall and Guerriero team for owner JP McManus. He is a Goliath du Berlais gelding out of Boscraie (Martaline) who was a dual winner over fences for Emmanuel Clayeux in France. She already has 2 of her progeny racing in the UK and the most notable thing about this horse is the fact that he is a half-brother to Iroko, who has already brought festival success for these connections.

Majisco made his debut in the Prix Geoffroy de la Selle at Moulins in April 2025, finishing 7th. That race has worked out well, with the winner Manoir de Mirande joining Gordon Elliott, whilst both Milpat (2nd) and Macshadow des Crai (3rd) moved to the UK. The 5th, 8th and 11th placed horses have all won races since and as 3-year-old AQPS races go, this has proved to be one of the better ones from the last campaign. Majisco raced prominently that day and was in 2nd pace as they turned for home, but he faded and clearly needed more time, eventually finishing 7th beaten 11 lengths. He did not reappear until February, when he chased home the very exciting Mahollia in the Prix de Haras Nationaux at Fontainebleau. Sat behind the pace, he was ideally placed with 3 furlongs to run. Still on terms at the 400m pole, he was driven to try and keep up with the impressive winner and although he was no match for Mahollia, time may well prove that to be a difficult task and I liked the way that he battled on to finish 2nd against more experienced rivals. The form is certainly open to some question given that the 3 horses to finish directly behind Majisco have all been beaten on their next starts, but this was still a significant improvement on his earlier effort.

Given his new connections and the fact that he is a half-brother to Iroko, he isn’t going to be missed in the market when he eventually makes his UK debut, but I would exercise some caution. This is a long term project and on the evidence we have so far, he may well need some time and distance before he is seen to best effect. Iroko was also bred by Jacques Cypres and he took some time get off the mark after also making his debut in an AQPS race at Moulins. In time, this may well look like a shrewd piece of business, but it may take a season or two for Majisco ro realise his true potential.