Roi Mage, a standing dish in Crystal Cup races this past 18 months, is set to be retired in the New Year as he reaches the gallant old age of 14.

The 13 year old is still burning up the gallops in preparation for a second tilt at Craon’s listed Louis de Guebriant Cross Country on September 7th, a race he won last year under James Reveley. His preparation included a return to Corlay at the end of June when he found Horus d’Aubrelle 6l too good, a second consecutive runner-up position in this race after rubbing up against Gold Allen in ’23.

James Reveley is all smiles as Roi Mage becomes the first Irish winner of Craon’s big cross country

Roi Mage has been a stalwart of staying chases since James Griffin brought him over from France in February 2022, finding easier pickings in the cross country route as a means of qualification for the Grand National, in which he finished a 14l seventh in 2023 to Corach Rambler, and a 25l 9th to I Am Maximus the following year.

Fifty races and 10 victories to date have generated over £350,000 plus overseas earnings bumping that total well north of £400k, and at 13, he still merits a rating of 147.

James Griffin, whose father Paddy holds the licence, has pioneered Roi Mage’s international travels. “At 14, I think he’s earned his retirement,” James remarked. “He’s primed to return to Craon, then probably back to Compiegne in early November, then we’ll see.”

Roi Mage’s longevity is testament to Griffin’s assiduous management of his racing career, but also an illustration to others of how a cross country regime takes less out of a horse than the distance and variety of obstacle might lead one to believe. Although races are generally in excess of 3 miles, the tendency, at least among the 200 or so French races, is for a manageable pace with a sprint finish, so the dour stamina of an old-fashioned British long distance chaser is not necessarily the optimal candidate.

Despite a partisan crowd at Craon, Roi Mage is likely to carry some domestic support, in his effort to be the first dual winner since Balthazar King in 2014.