OVER 40 horses are expected to be offered to the market at next Thursday’s Goresbridge Select Sale of Point-to-Pointers and National Hunt Horses in Training.

The first thoroughbred sale to be staged at the Co Kilkenny venue in four years, the sale features 14 point-to-point winners, two racecourse winners and 15 placed point-to-pointers. A handful of wildcard entries are expected to be added to the sale after this weekend.

Ed Donohoe of Goresbridge said: “Hosting this sale demonstrates our focus on catering to the needs of both point-to-points and National Hunt racing.”

Donohoe said the company had hoped to offer in the region of 50 lots “but the torrential rainfall has caused havoc to the racemeetings.”

Many prominent point-to-point producers are represented in the catalogue.

The Mick Goff-trained Justatan is a potential sale-topper, the five-year-old having won both his starts to-date at Tinahely (October) and Monksgrange (March).

Shabby Hill is another five-year-old who is sure to get a lot of attention, having made a winning debut at Lingstown last month for trainer Tom Dreaper.

Ellen Doyle’s Bride Rovers Abu won a five-year-old maiden in good style at Borris House last month, the runner-up having franked the form with a strong performance next time out.

There are three horses in the catalogue from the final crop of the late Mount Nelson. They include Queen Nel, winner of a Gowran Park maiden hurdle last month by eight lengths for trainer Ray Cody.

The Doyles of Monbeg Stables have supported the sale, their draft headed by recent Belclare point-to-point winner Epic West (also by Mount Nelson).

Donnchadh Doyle consigns Ballyragget maiden winner Small Town Kid. Runner-up in that race was Michelle Gannon’s Rock On Jet and he is also catalogued, having since finished fifth in a big-field bumper at Cork on Easter Monday.

Eugene O’Sullivan’s Famous Liss came home alone at Knockanohill recently and this six-year-old who is related to Blazing Liss and Next Generation, is yet another winner heading to the sale.

Colin Bowe and Harley Dunne are other prominent handlers supporting the sale which starts at 1pm.

The Goresbridge website will have conformation shots and video footage of each lot from Monday. All lots will have veterinary certificates available to view online by Wednesday.

Viewing runs from 4pm-7pm on Wednesday, and from 9am on Thursday.

Web: goresbridge.com

Tel: 087-2577711 (Ed Donohoe)