ONLINE sales platform ThoroughBid has been given a big boost through this week’s Aintree success by Its On The Line.

Emmet Mullins bought the horse from James Doyle’s Baltimore Stables for just £8,000 in March 2022. At that time, the then five-year-old had finished fifth and fourth in two point-to-point maidens.

Within weeks, Mullins saddled the gelding to win a couple of hunter chases on the track and the horse progressed the following season to finish a surprise second at the Cheltenham Festival before winning the Champion Hunter Chase at Punchestown.

This season Its On The Line won an open lightweight and two hunter chases in the colours of his trainer and the Cistercian College Racing Club before transferring into the ownership of J.P. McManus and again finishing second at Cheltenham.

On Thursday, under another never-say-die ride from Derek O’Connor, Its On The Line won the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase at Aintree, his ninth victory since being bought on ThoroughBid.

“I didn’t think the £8,000 we paid for him on ThoroughBid would turn out to be such a bargain. He was bought to win a maiden for five-year-old geldings, so he’s more than repaid us!”, said Mullins.

“He’s got a lot of ability and thankfully we’ve got Derek [O’Connor] on board who gets everything out of him.”

Mullins confirmed that a defence of his Champion Hunters Chase crown at Punchestown is on his agenda. “We were only looking at Aintree speculatively, with the hope that we might get soft ground to bring his stamina into play, and that just swayed us in the end. He clearly takes his races very well and has a great constitution.

“I’d say he’ll stay hunter-chasing. It’s great being able to come to these big meetings with a big chance in these sorts of races, so fingers crossed he can keep doing the business. He’ll definitely have an entry for Punchestown and we’ll see how he is when we get home.”

CEO of ThoroughBid, James Richardson, said: “Its On The Line has proved to be an incredibly shrewd buy for Emmet Mullins. Having winners on the big days is really important as we continue to grow our presence, so we’re delighted to add a Grand National Festival winner to our list of successful ThoroughBid graduates.”

ThoroughBid’s next sale is on Tuesday, April 30th. Entries are open until next Thursday, April 18th, and consignors are only required to pay for entry if their horse sells.

Web: thoroughbid.co.uk