THE four-year-old point-to-point maiden staged on February 13th at the new Irish point-to-point course Comea in Kilfeacle, Co Tipperary, supplied the two top-priced lots at Thursday's Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale.

The race winner Willmount, a four-year-old son of Blue Bresil and produced by Colin Bowe’s Milestone Stables, was the sale’s top lot selling for £340,000.

He was bought by trainer Neil Mulholland who saw off many interested parties, including agents Harold Kirk, Gerry Hogan and Eddie O'Leary.

"He is for owner Oliver Harris who has a few horses with us," said Mulholland. "The horse was one of the stand-out horses at the sale, and when I mentioned him to Oliver he said that number eight is his lucky number!

"The horse came highly recommended and I am delighted to have him on board. The sire is going places, and Oliver was keen to get him and stuck his neck out. We'll get him home, we'll treat him as a good horse, see if we can win a bumper."

Willmount, who is out of the bumper winner Youngstar (by Old Vic), was bought as a three-year-old store last year for €46,000 by Bowe’s Milestone Bloodstock from Manister House Stud.

The session’s leading consignor Bowe, who sold three horses for an average price of £166,667, said: "He has always been a stand-out, he has a very good temperament, he handles soft ground and can quicken off it. Hopefully, he will be a good horse for next year.”

Elliott to train

Shannon Royale finished two and a half lengths second to Willmount at Comea and the Walk In The Park gelding finished hot on the heels of his victor again selling for £300,000, bought by Mags O'Toole.

"He is a fine big horse, the sire is on fire, he had a lovely run against the top lot, he is a horse for the future, he won't be rushed and goes into training with Gordon Elliot for an existing client," said O'Toole, who added: "I loved the way the winner and this horse got away from the others, they quickened well. He is gorgeous, he has a lovely head on him.”

Consignor Denis Murphy of Ballyboy Stables, who spent €100,000 on the Walk In The Park gelding last year when buying him as a three-year-old, said: "He was the pick of the paddock when I bought him, and, as he has been an easy horse to train, he should go forward."

Despite Willmount and Shannon Royale going 12 lengths clear of their field at Comea, Murphy admitted: "I was a little disappointed on the day to finish second, but Colin likes his horse a lot. Hopefully, the form will look good in time."

Tony Martin

Captain Checkdown, a five-year-old by Getaway, was bought by trainer Tony Martin on behalf of Bloodstock Accountancy Services for £180,000. Sold by Andrew Latta’s Ballinakill Stables, the gelding won on his second career start at Ballinaboola at the beginning of February.

The preceding lot, the four-year-old Out Of Office, a winner at Belharbour, was sold by Rob James Racing for £160,000 to Welsh trainer Evan Williams buying on behalf of his long-term owners William and Angela Rucker.

The 33 lots sold on Thursday produced an aggregate of £2,718,000, an average price of £82,364, a median of £60,000 and sold at a clearance rate of 89%. Eight horses fetched £100,000 or more.

The day’s busiest buyer was Highflyer Bloodstock, the agency purchasing three horses for a spend of £252,000.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES

Current year 2020 Change %

Catalogued 38 51 -25%

Withdrawn 1 11 -91%

Offered 37 40 -8%

Unsold 4 10 -60%

Sold 33 30 +10%

Aggregate £2,718,000 £2,367,000 +15%

Median £60,000 £60,000

Average £82,364 £78,900 +4%

% sold 89% 75% +19%