DAY one of the Tattersalls Ireland July Store Sale saw a clearance rate of just over 61%. The day's average price was €8,365 and median €6,000.

Comparisons with last year's sale are not straight-forward as the 2023 sale was divided into two parts. Part 1 had a clearance rate of 71.6% and Part 2 was 56%.

Unlike at the premium store sales in June, the vast majority of the top three-year-olds sold today were Irish-bred. The day's highest price was the €36,000 paid by trainer Cian Collins for a gelding by Valirann who stands at Ronnie O'Neill's Whytemount Stud.

Offered by AC Bloodstock, the three-year-old is the second foal out of the Brian Boru mare Blanaid Of Ossory, a half-sister to Major Malarkey, a seven-time winner and placed in the Midlands National, and to the dam of the two-time Grade 1-winning chaser Banbridge.

"For us he is the nicest horse here today and we were not leaving without him," said Collins. "He has the physique and the pedigree, Banbridge was a good horse. He has been bought for an owner in the yard, and we will get him home, break him in and see then where we might head with him – either go pointing or look at the bumper route. I have had a couple by the sire but this is by far the nicest."

Collins will be represented in next week's Galway Hurdle by prolific winner Fiveonefive who he bought at this sale's predecessor, the August Sale, in 2021 for just €1,500.

British trainer Jeremy Scott made his trip to Fairyhouse worthwhile when buying a Malinas gelding for €32,000.

His purchase is a half-brother to the Ladbrokes Gold Cup winner Cloth Cap, from the family of Strath Royal, Niche Market and Artifice, and was sold by Chris Jones' Killeen Glebe.

"I came here not necessarily expecting to buy a horse for an owner," said Scott ."I have not had an order all year for a three-year-old store, but as I got here someone phoned me and said she was interested in getting a horse – she had retired a horse last year and wanted a replacement.

"This a lovely-looking horse and he has a good consistent pedigree. He will go to Martin Collins to be broken, then possibly back to the owner for a break and then to us for the spring."

Point-to-point handler Denis Murphy was the day's leading purchaser with two acquisitions. His top buy was a Wings Of Eagles gelding for €31,000, sold by Dermot Costello's Sladoo Farm. The horse's dam Finisk Mist (by Mahler) is an own-sister to Munster National winner The Big Dog.

"I have not had anything by Wings Of Eagles before," said Murphy, adding: "I liked what I saw of them running this spring."

He continued: "This horse is light on his feet, and I only saw him when he came up here. I have not had anything from the family but it is a good staying pedigree, and he goes pointing."

The only other horse to reach €30,000 on Wednesday was a filly by Sir Percy consigned by Tom Howley's Brook Lodge Farm in Galway. The French-bred is half-sister to two Aintree Grade 1 winners in All Yours and Lac Fontana.

Purchaser Pat McGrath from Longford, who signed alongside David L'Estrange, said: "We will break her in and see what she shows us, but she might go straight to stud. She has a great outcross pedigree so we will have plenty of options."

Willie and Michael Browne of Mocklershill Stables turned a quick profit with the sale of French import Lord De Choisel for €26,000 to Eoin Doyle. The son of Great Pretender was sourced in France just 24 days ago for €10,000.

Michael Browne said: "This was the plan and thank God it has worked out. He is a nice sort. He came from France a bit light so we have been stuffing him full of grub. He has taken everything really well and has a great temperament."

The gelding is a half-brother to two multiple winners in France and is from the family of the talented blacktype winners Gaspara, Larry and Mr Thriller.

The sale concludes on Thursday.