THE first Grade 1 of the Irish 2024/2025 National Hunt season provided a reminder, should we need one, of the talent to be sourced from Irish point-to-points and from Tattersalls Cheltenham sales in particular.
The Champion Chase winner Envoi Allen, now a nine-time Grade 1 winner at 10 years of age, was bought by Tom Malone for £400,000 at the venue’s February Sale from Colin Bowe. The same handler sold the third horse and 2023 victor Gerri Colombe to Mags O’Toole for £240,000, the Saddler Maker gelding repaying Gordon Elliott and Robcour with five Grade 1 wins over fences.
Also at Down Royal last weekend, Grade 1 bumper horse Romeo Coolio, who cost £420,000 at the same sale, made a hugely impressive start over hurdles, while dual Grade 1 winner Found A Fifty, who was offered at the December Sale, landed the Grade 2 chase.
Graduates of the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale in particular include Grade 1 winners Ballyadam, Beacon Edge, Finian’s Oscar, Ginto, Tullyhill and Verdana Blue. That list features more affordable buys, with Noel Meade’s Drinmore Novice Chase winner Beacon Edge costing £88,000, while Christmas Hurdle heroine Verdana Blue fetched £65,000. The latter’s value rose to 370,000gns when re-offered at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale three years later.
In fact, the November Sale honour roll provides plenty of inspiration for those seeking value - dual Graded winner Chosen Mate (£32,000), Grade 2-winning chaser Hurricane Harvey (£50,000), Sandown Gold Cup victor Talkischeap (£55,000) and Grade 2 scorer Its’afreebee (£55,000), who finished third in the Grade 1 Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle.
Four-year-old mares topped the 2023 edition, with Piper Park knocked down to Tom Lacey for £205,000, while Honky Tonk Highway cost £165,000, she justifying her price tag when winning a listed bumper next time out.
Expert view
Next week’s catalogue features a quartet of five-year-old winners and 15 four-year-old winners, so in order to narrow down potential highlights, I spoke to former leading amateur rider Jamie Codd, now a key member of the bloodstock and sales teams at Tattersalls Ireland and Tattersalls Cheltenham.
“Of the four-year-olds, there’s eight first-time winners there in the geldings, and then there’s five debut-winning mares,” Codd explained. “When you’re looking at the mares, I suppose one of the highlights would be a Kalanisi mare called Onefournine (Lot 11). She’s the first foal out of a mare called Smart Talk, who won a Grade 2, and Kalanisi can get you a good filly, the likes of Fayonagh.
“Then there’s Torpille Dagrostis (Lot 18), who is a full-sister to Itchy Feet, who is a Grade 1 winner for Olly Murphy. She was second first time out, but they finished clear of the rest of the field.
“Of the four-year-old geldings, you have Kovanis (Lot 8), a Tunis horse from Ger Quinn. He won by 10 lengths at Portrush, the same track as Finnegans Oscar, Ballyadam and King Of Kingsfield, so it has a proven record of getting good horses. Ger Quinn has another fine horse by Balko, Shabalko D’Herm (Lot 30).
“Jonathan Fogarty has Hank West (Lot 25), who won by eight lengths at Lisronagh. His brother won a bumper as a four-year-old and passed away. His dam is by Montjeu, so he’s kind of got a flat pedigree, and Westerner gets you good horses all day long.
“Lot 27 from Colin Bowe is Etna Bianco, a Jukebox Jury with a German pedigree. The sire is doing very well and can get you any kind of a model - sharp and racy, or a bigger horse.
“Show In The Sky (Lot 36) is by Snow Sky, out of a very good mare called Voller La Vedette. He won by 10 lengths at Tinahely for Donnchadh Doyle.
“Debut winner Road Exile (Lot 19) looks another smart horse and his sire Harzand is going well.”
Since speaking to Codd, four wildcards have been added to the catalogue, with more expected over the weekend. The new additions, all four-year-olds, are promising runner-up Reckless Spending, eyecatching newcomer Yes Sir Jack (Lot 14), 20-length winner Conman John (Lot 22) and fellow Damma House maiden winner Soldier In Mayo (Lot 31).
The sale takes place after racing on Friday, November 15th, beginning at 4.45pm. The catalogue is available to view online at www.tattersallscheltenham.com
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