SUNSHINE greeted the inaugural Goffs UK Aintree Sale after racing on Thursday evening, and it was a case of smiles all around for the sales company and the vendors when the final tallies were in.

All but three of the 24 lots offered were eventually sold, with an aggregate more than twice the initial expectations of managing director Henry Beeby. The average of £103,333 and the median figure of £70,000 were both outstanding results, and all the major buyers of horses with form were in attendance.