JP McManus has purchased Le Coudray, France's leading four-year-old hurdler, for an undisclosed sum. It is thought that he will be trained in Ireland.

McManus went to view the horse earlier this week and Chantilly-based trainer Marcel Rolland said that the deal was finalised yesterday. Le Coudray has won four out of his last five races, winning prize money of over £120,000 in his last three races. His most recent victory came with a narrow but comfortable success in the prestigious prix Renaud du Vivier over two and a half miles at Auteuil on November 15th.

Rolland said "This horse has lots of quality, can jump quickly and he has plenty of stamina."

The French trainer added: "All I hope is that if Le Coudray does not adapt to the obstacles in England and Ireland, then he will be sent back to me."

Mary Reveley scotched once and for all any talk of the presence of a virus in her Saltburn yard with a 10,709 to 1 four-timer at Newcastle yesterday. Victories for Kingennie, Alpine Panther and Time of Flight completed a treble for Peter Niven following the success of Lord Lamb and Alan Dempsey in the opener.

Alpine Panther, carrying the colours of BHB chairman Peter Savill, gave the trainer the third leg of the quartet with victory in the John Collier Handicap Hurdle.