THE National Hunt breeding sector received a much-needed boost this week when Part 1 of the Goffs Arkle Sale returned a very healthy set of returns.

Excluding the new two-year-old section - which went well - the two-day sale ended with a clearance rate of 83.5%, up from 81% last year. The median price of €45,000 was up 7% and the average price of €53,554 was up almost 11%.