THE first four-year-old maiden winners of the year feature in the early entries for the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale, which takes place on Friday, February 21st.

Impressive Dromahane winner Starzand topped the venue’s last sale at £230,000 and his sire Harzand supplies another exciting prospect in next week’s sale, in the shape of Hitintheheadlines. Denis Murphy’s charge looked the likely winner of a four-year-old maiden at Tallow when the leader fell at the final fence, leaving him to win his debut by 14 lengths.

Stablemate Taurus Bay was a first point-to-point runner for Boardsmill Stud sire Poet’s Word in a four-year-old maiden at Comea and justified favouritism by two and a half lengths under Jack Hendrick. The runner-up Marsiac is also catalogued.

Kanzler emerged as a smart prospect, when drawing seven lengths clear on debut at Kirkistown. The four-year-old will be offered by Michael Goff’s Moate Stables, who sold subsequent Grade 1 winner Jango Baie at this sale in 2023 for £170,000. Jerry McGrath sourced another Grade 1 performer for Nicky Henderson at the same sale, giving £225,000 for the Rob James-trained Jingko Blue.

James offers two four-year-olds next week, both of whom placed second on debut. One of those, the well-related Order Of St George gelding Saint Invictus, chased home Lion Rose Sivola in a Ballinaboola maiden, and the Mark Scallan-trained winner also features in the sale’s early entries.

Races with history

Five-year-old winners catalogued include the Denis Murphy-trained Jukebox King, who made a successful debut at Ballycrystal. The 2023 running was won by Wingmen, who since selling from Gordon Elliott to the trainer himself and Bective Stud, has placed in two Grade 1 novice hurdles.

The five-year-old maiden won by Vanderflier at Belharbour also boasts a notable history, having been won by Fact To File three years ago. Sam Curling’s charge built on a promising debut third to deny co-favourite Talk To The Boss by two lengths, the pair drawing eight lengths clear of the third. The Marie Harding-trained runner-up, who was making his debut, is also catalogued.

The winner and runner-up of the first division of the recent five-year-old geldings maiden at Ballinaboola will be reunited at the Cheltenham sales ground. The Eamonn Doyle-trained Tales Of Bravery was sent off the even-money favourite and obliged by six lengths, while the David Kelly-trained One For Rian chased him home.

Ian Ferguson and Philip McBurney’s €95,000 store sale buy No Risk Today justified her price tag and favouritism on debut at Kirkistown. The Ger Quinn-trained daughter of No Risk At All won by seven lengths going away, as a more experienced rival chased her home.

Changeyourstars is another mare of note, having won her second start at Tallow in a time nine seconds quicker than the four-year-old maiden on the card. The Pa King-trained five-year-old further appeals as a half-sister to Long Walk Hurdle third, Beauport.

Home team

Edith Pelham, a smart debut winner for Gina and Tom Ellis, is one of two Blue Bresil mares catalogued, and one of four British entries so far. British point-to-points produced one of the sale’s recent success stories, Mr Vango. Last month’s Peter Marsh Chase victor was bought by Marcus Collie and Mark Bradstock from Chris Barber for £30,000 following his 25-length win at Horseheath.

Mooserwirt showed signs of inexperience when delivering on debut at Brocklesby earlier this month. The well-related son of Sholokhov will be offered by Jack Teal, who kickstarted the career of Kalypso’chance. Sold to Gordon Elliott for £85,000, the Masked Marvel gelding made it two from two in a listed bumper at Navan and is a leading fancy for the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Nigel Twiston-Davies offers the most experienced horse of the entries, Weveallbeencaught, who returned to winning ways with a commanding victory at Doncaster last month. Bought at the venue for £210,000 three years ago, the eight-year-old is offered with Cheltenham Festival options in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup and the Grade 2 National Hunt Chase.

Tattersalls Cheltenham will accept further entries from point-to-points held this weekend, the Irish meetings being at Oldtown, Knockanard, Tinahely and Nenagh, and in the UK at Larkhill, Horseheath, Duncombe Park and Buckfastleigh.