QUALITY horses in training and winning point-to-pointers are the main features of the Cheltenham Festival National Hunt Sale, the fourth auction to be conducted there by Tattersalls Ireland. Previously the Cheltenham sales were organised by Brightwells, the Leominster auctioneers who had been running the Ascot Sales since 2000.
Including some still unknown wild card entries, Tattersalls Ireland expect to have a catalogue of about 30 lots for their Cheltenham Festival Auction, to be held after racing on Thursday, March 17th, at 6.15pm in the winners’ enclosure. The sires of the entries include Beneficial, Flemensfirth, Kayf Tara, Mahler, Oscar and Westerner.
Entries were still being accepted when this preview went to press, but details of the wild cards may be found on the tattersalls.ie website a few days before the sale. Horses will be available for viewing at the RDA Stables on Wednesday from 10.30am to 6.30pm and on Thursday from 8.30am to 4.00pm.
YOUNG BUMPERS
Lot 2 LADY BEAUFORT, 5yo ch m by Shirocco. From Bellwood Cottage Stables. Won a bumper at Kelso in February, her first and only start. Half-sister to 5 winners, including Kadarann (11 wins, Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase, Grade 2 Castleford Chase).
Lot 4 MIDNIGHT MAESTRO, 4yo b g by Midnight Legend. From Barbury Castle Stables. Won a bumper at Doncaster on 5th March by 4 1/2 lengths, only start. Own-brother to 5 winners, including listed-placed Tigris. Dam won 5 races.
Lot 13 THEBARROWMAN, 6yo b g by Mahler. From Adrian Keatley Racing. Won a bumper at Fairyhouse in February by 7 1/2 lengths, also won Maralin point-to-point in 2015, his only starts. Dam Pixie Dust won a bumper, dam of 2 winners.
PROMISING POINTERS
Lot 3 KILFILUM CROSS, 5yo gr g by Beneficial. From Coogane Stables. Won at Cragmore in February, second and fourth in two previous starts. Dam won 2 hurdles, out of half-sister to Grade 1 hurdler Mistinguett.
Lot 6 TIMEWAITSFORNOONE, 4yo b g by Oscar. From Milestone Stables. Won at Tinahely in February, after second at Punchestown in previous week, his only starts. Grandam own-sister to Grade 1 star Glenelly Gale and to Cab On Target.
Lot 7 SIDEWAYS, 5yo b g by Gamut. From Leighmoney Stables. Won in field of 15 at Borris House on 6th March, his second start. Grandam is Leopardstown Grade 2 chaser Call Me Dara.
Lot 8 MONBEG CHIT CHAT, 5yo b g by Kayf Tara. From Monbeg Stables. Won at Lismore on 6th March and second at Oldtown in February, his only starts. Half-brother to listed-placed bumper Gayebury, out of half-sister to dual Grade 3 star Simon.
Lot 11 ORCHARD THIEVES, 4yo b g by Ask. From Monbeg Stables. Second, beaten only half a length, at Durrow in February, his only start. Half-brother to 3 winners. Dam half-sister to Sparky Gayle (Grade 2 Cathcart Chase).
Lot 12 JACK DEVINE, 4yo b g by Kalanisi. From Hassett Racing. Second, beaten only a length and a half, at Oldtown in February, his only start. Grandam own-sister to Sackville (18 wins, Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup, etc).
Lot 15 MOLLY THE DOLLY, 5yo b m by Flemensfirth. From Baltimore House Stables. Won by 6 lengths at Cragmore on 21st February, her second start. Family of Flashing Steel (Irish Grand National).
Lot 16 CIRANO DE SIVOLA, 4yo gr g by Vendangeur. From Cottage Field Stables. Won by 5 lengths at Larkhill in February, his only start. Half-brother to Attila De Sivola (Grade 3 Prix Fleuret Chase at Auteuil, also won 2 listed hurdles there).
Lot 17 THREE SWALLOWSNICK, 5yo b m by Westerner. From Drumderry Stables. Won by 5 lengths in field of 16 at Borris House in December, then won by 4 lengths at Durrow in February, her only starts.
Lot 18 DERRINROSS, 5yo b g by Scorpion. From Kilkeaskin House. Won at Oldtown on 7th February, his only start. His dam Cybele Eria won over hurdles and fences, half-sister to 2 blacktype winners.
Lot 20 ONTHEPULSE, 4yo b g by Oscar. From Milestone Stables. Won at Cragmore in February, his only start. Dam won point-to-point, out of half-sister to Orwell Times (listed Munster Chase).
Lot 21 MONBEG WORLDWIDE, 4yo b g by Lucarno. From Monbeg Stables. Won in field of 9 at Lismore on 6th March, his only start. Dam half-sister to 3 winners. Family of Champion Hurdle stars Morley Street and Granville Again.
Lot 22 BURGING BURGESS, 5yo ch g by Mahler. From Galgystown Stables. Won at Punchestown by 10 lengths in mid-February in field of 12, his second start. Half-brother to 2 winners, from family of Remittance Man.
Lot 24 NEWTOWN CRAIG, 4yo b g by Craigsteel. From Milestone Stables. Won at Tyrella on 5th March, his only start. Grandam own-sister to Brackenfield (16 NH wins) and to dam of Grade 1 star Cooldine.
STORES
Lot 5, 3yo b f by Kayf Tara. From Cobhall Court Stud. Own-sister to Thistlecrack (7 wins, Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, Grade 1 Sefton Hurdle at Aintree, Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham), half-sister to 2 other winners. Dam Ardstown won 4 chases.