QUALITY horses in training and winning point-to-pointers are the main features of the Cheltenham February National Hunt Sale, to be conducted there by Tattersalls Ireland. Including some still unknown wild card entries, Tattersalls Ireland expect to have a catalogue of about 45 lots for their Cheltenham February Auction, to be held on Thursday, February 15th, at 1.30pm.
Last year a new record price for a point-to-pointer was set at this sale, when Flemenshill was sold for £480,000. Among the stars sold in previous years are On The Blind Side, Master Of The Hall, Monbeg Dude and Annacotty, who was bought here for only £30,000 and won the Grade 1 Kauto Star Chase at Kempton, the Grade 3 Paddy Power Gold Cup and two other graded chases at Cheltenham.
Entries were still being accepted when this preview went to press, but details of the wild cards may be found on the web at www.tattersalls.ie a few days before the sale.
WINNING HURDLERS
Lot 14 MOYHENNA, 6yo b m by Westerner. From Boherna Stables. Won Punchestown hurdle in a field of 21 on January 30th and Punchestown bumper in field of 14 on December 31st, placed in her other four starts. Dam Moskova won Grade 3 Dawn Run Chase.
YOUNG BUMPERS
Lot 2 SO LONELY, 4yo b f by So You Think. From Charnwood Stables. Second in bumpers at Newbury and Warwick, her two latest starts. Dam half-sister to Group 1 star Zafisio.
Lot 6 MALINAS JACK, 4yo b g by Malinas. From Barton Hall Stables. Second of 13 in listed Cheltenham bumper in January, also third at Doncaster, only starts. Same grandam as Grade 2 hurdler Western Boy.
Lot 8 SIMPLY LOVELEH, 5yo b m by Beneficial. From Robert Stephens Racing. Promising fourth of 11 in listed bumper at Market Rasen in January, first start. Third dam Highfrith won 11 NH races.
Lot 11 BLUEFORTYTWO, 5yo gr g by Overbury. From J R Bewley. Second, beaten a length, in Ayr bumper in January, his first start. Family of Kayf Tara (champion stayer and leading NH sire).
Lot 20 KISSESFORKATIE, 4yo b f by Jeremy. From Fortfield Stables. Close third in Naas bumper in January, her first start. Family of Cheltenham star The Bushkeeper and Cue Card (nine Grade 1 wins).
Lot 22 WELL SET UP, 5yo b m by Gold Well. From Burrow Road Stables. Won by 11 lengths in Down Royal bumper on January 31st, first start. Half-sister to On The Blind Side (Grade 2 hurdles at Cheltenham and Sandown).
Lot 37 REBOUND, 5yo b g by Big Bad Bob. From Potwell Farm Stables. Won Ludlow bumper in field of 12 in January, second only other start. Own brother to Bible Belt and Bob Le Beau (star hurdler in USA).
PROMISING POINTERS
Lot 3 YOUNGOCONNOR, 5yo b m by Kalanisi. From Monbeg Stables. Second at Nenagh on January 28th, also third from three starts. Half-sister to a winner.
Lot 4 BALLYDUN OSCAR, 6yo b g by Oscar. From Ballyknock Stables. Won by three lengths at Killeagh on January 14th, his second start. Half-brother to three winners. Dam won two hurdle races.
Lot 7 BILLAWAY, 6yo b g by Well Chosen. From About Time Stables. Won at Ballinaboola by six lengths on February, 4th, fell when disputing lead in only other start. Family of Eddie Wee and Jack High.
Lot 10 ALWAYS ON THE BALL, 5yo ch g by Kapgarde. From Ballyboy Stables. Second at Dungarvan in January and at Kirkistown in November, fourth only other start. Dam won over hurdles in France.
Lot 12 MILLARVILLE, 5yo b m by Court Cave. From Newlands Farm. Won at Tyrella by eight lengths on January 27th, her first start, beating 12 others. Grandam half-sister to Grade 1 chaser Fiddling The Facts.
Lot 16 SMITHS CROSS, 6yo b/br g by Westerner. From Cobajay Stables. Won by five lengths at Nenagh on January 28th, second and third in only previous starts. Dam Blue Supreme won two point-to-points.
Lot 17 ENVOI ALLEN, 4yo b g by Muhtathir. From Milestone Stables. Won by 10 lengths at Ballinaboola on February 4th, his first start. Dam won over jumps in France, half-sister to Auteuil chasing star Une Epoque.
Lot 18 GOOD AND HARDY, 5yo b g by Westerner. From Josh Ryan. Won by four lengths at Templenacarriga on December 31st, fourth in two previous starts. Dam half-sister to In Contrast (Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle).
Lot 19 SOME OPERATOR, 4yo b g by September Storm. From Monbeg Stables. Won at Tallow on February 4th, first start. Same grandam as Marlbrook (Grade 2 Nas Na Riogh Chase). Grandam half-sister to Corbiere.
Lot 21 STORM ARISING, 4yo b g by Yeats. From Ballyboy Stables. Third of eight at Belharbour on February 4th, his first start. Dam Ceol Rua won listed hurdle at Fairyhouse, half-sister to Grade 1 star Glens Melody.
Lot 23 NEARLY PERFECT, 4yo b g by Malinas. From Baltimore House Stables. Second at Ballinaboola on February 4th, his first start. Half-brother to hurdles winner. Dam won three races over hurdles and fences.
Lot 26 NOTACHANCE, 4yo b g by Mahler. From Ballyboy Stables. Second at Tallow on February 4th, beaten only a length, his first start. Dam won two point-to-points. Grandam winning half-sister to Over The Deel.
Lot 27 PRAGMATIC, 5yo gr g by High Rock. From Gurtacurrig Stables. Won at Dunvargan by eight lengths on January 28th, his second start. Same grandam as French graded stars Royal Astarania and Roll On Has.
Lot 28 KENSUKES KINGDOM, 5yo b g by Stowaway. From Knockanglass Stables. Won by eight lengths at Tallow on February 4th, beating 10 others, fourth only previous start. Half-brother to two winners.
Lot 30 SEBASTOPOL, 4yo b g by Fame And Glory. From Cottagefield Stables. Impressive 15 lengths winner at Larkhill on January 7th, his first start. Dam won three flat races and three hurdles.
Lot 31 FAMOUS SAYING, 4yo b g by Fame And Glory. From Suirview Stables. Second of eight at Belharbour on February 4th, his first start. Family of Grade 2 stars Weird Al and Enniscoffey Oscar.
Lot 33 DLAURO, 5yo b g by Lauro. From Monbeg Stables. Won by six lengths in field of 11 at Belharbour on February 4th, his first start. Half-brother to 3 winners in France. Dam won in France.
Lot 34 DANSE IDOL, 5yo b m by Dansant. From John P O’Callaghan. Won a point-to-point at Boulta in November, second of 14 in Punchestown bumper in January, only starts. Half-sister to three winners.
Lot 35 ENVIOUS EDITOR, 4yo b g by Aizavoski. From Knockbrack Bloodstock. Won by four lengths at Belharbour on February 4th, in a field of eight, his first start.
Lot 36 ASK DILLON, 5yo b g by Ask. From Murberry Stables. Won by six lengths in field of 10 at Nenagh on January 28th, second start. Half-brother to three winners. Dam half-sister to Grade 1 chaser Patricksnineteenth.
Lot 39 SALTY BOY, 5yo b g by Stowaway. From Canterbrook Stud. Won in field of 11 at Ballinaboola on February 4th, his first start. Dam half-sister to three winners. Family of Black Jack Ketchum and Fota Island.
Lot 41 ALSA MIX, 6yo gr m by Al Namix. From Blackhall Stud. Won at Aghabullogue by 10 lengths on January 7th, her first start. Grandam won four races, own-sister to Byzantium (four listed hurdles at Auteuil).
Lot 44 PORTNABLAGH, 5yo b m by Well Chosen. From Liam O’Brien. Winner by eight lengths at Dungarvan on January 28th, her first start. Dam Countess Trifaldi won three point-to-points, third Grade 3 Dawn Run Chase.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
Year Lots offered Lots sold Turnover Average €
2014 36 28 1,459,500 52,125
2015 34 28 1,629,000 58,179
2016 32 23 1,220,000 53,043
2017 42 33 2,562,000 77,636