THE second Goresbridge Select Sale of Point-To-Pointers and Horses In Training posted a clearance rate of 62% on Thursday, an aggregate of €581,000 and an average of €20,034. Last year’s edition returned a slightly better average of €22,765, with Epic West selling to Tom Malone for €60,000. That gelding was impressive when winning a novice hurdle recently for trainer Jamie Snowden.

That top price was narrowly bettered this time when Milo Miller, a five-year-old son of Black Sam Bellamy sold for €62,000 to Richard Downes and Charles Byrnes. Successful in a Ballyragget point-to-point earlier this year, the Donnchadh Doyle-trained bay was half a length second in a winners of two at Damma House earlier this month, and nine days later chased home the odd-on favourite and Willie Mullins-trained Full Confession in a bumper at Fairyhouse.

A €30,000 foal and €43,000 store, Milo Miller is a half-brother to a chase winner, while his dam Kilronan High was a point-to-point winner before joining Nigel Twiston-Davies, winning two of her four bumper starts, a hurdle race and two chases. She comes from the family of Bob Tisdall.

The day’s second highest price was registered as a cash purchase, though it is understood for a British owner. This was €54,000 and it was paid for the wildcard entry Kocktail Bleu. A four-year-old French-bred son of Magneticjim, and trained by Michael Goff, he has fallen on two of his four starts, but finished a close third at Tattersalls Farm at the end of October. On his most recent outing he looked to be in a challenging position when tumbling at the last.

Downes and Byrnes were again on the purchase list when spending €46,000 for Youlita, a five-year-old son of Youmzain.

A Rathbarry Stud homebred, trained by Paul Cashman for his mother Catherine, Youlita won at Loughrea in mid-October before finishing one placed behind Milo Miller in a point-to-point and bumper subsequently. He is the first foal out of the King’s Theatre mare Solita, a seven-time winner who was second to Slowmotion in the Listed Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas.

James Owen

One of the early lots sold was Kevin O’Donnell’s five-year-old mare Laravie, a Sans Frontieres half-sister to the Grade 3 Cheltenham chase winner Clondaw Castle. She sold for €38,000 to Ryan Tongue for James Owen Racing, and this year she was second twice at Wexford, in a bumper and more recently over hurdles. She comes from the family of the smart Belvederian.

Laravie was preceded into the sale ring by Saltee View Stables’ Inbeforered. That five-year-old son of Zambezi Sun boosted his sale prospects when winning at the second time of asking just before the sale, successful for handler Mark Scallan when sent off favourite at Knockmullen House. That day he made all and won by six lengths. He heads to England after his purchase by Toby Hunt for €31,000.

Garryrichard breeding

Another who won on his second start was Hickeys Hill from Crossgale Stables, and this five-year-old by Hillstar recorded his first win at Quakerstown this month. Trained by Benny Walsh, the gelding comes from a family with a long association with the Hickey family at Garryrichard Stud. His fourth dam bred their dual Thyestes Chase winner Bob Treacy. John Griffin signed for Hickeys Hill at €32,000.

Another sale to a British-based cash purchaser was Donnchadh Doyle’s Tattersalls Farm point-to-point winner Atomic Level. That was the five-year-old son of Diamond Boy’s third start, and he sold for €30,000. He is a half-brother to dual hurdle winner Kavanaghs Cross and from the family of the Irish Grand National winner Glebe Lad.

A number of Irish trainers were among the successful purchasers. Ross O’Sullivan spent €27,000 to secure Jonathan Fogarty’s Sky And Sand. A four-year-old Westerner full-brother to bumper and hurdle winner Cappucino, he has been knocking at the door on all three of his outings in point-to-points, most recently finishing third at Turtulla.

Gavin Cromwell bought a couple of lots, and they included Millwood Bloodstock’s five-year-old Ocovango gelding Aspurofthemoment. He reverted back to point-to-pointing and won at Dromahane on his eighth start. He is a half-brother to a pair of racecourse winners, including the multiple Grade 2-placed Golden Jewel. Cromwell paid €25,000 for the former Eugene O’Sullivan-trained gelding.