DEMAND for horses in training appeared strong at the Tattersalls Online March Sale, which was topped by Willie Mullins’s sole offering, Horantzau d’Airy, at 50,000gns.

A blacktype performer over both hurdles and fences, the eight-year-old was offered with an entry in the Aintree Grand National, which seemed to be one of the attractions for buyer, Jim Gill. The owner is sending his purchase to Newmarket trainer Michael Keady.

“I’m very excited to get him today and Michael is delighted to be training him,” Gill commented. “Even if he doesn’t get into the Grand National, there is a big three-mile chase option for him at the Aintree meeting which he could run in.

“I played golf yesterday and had a few pints after, when I set the maximum bid for the horse. I’ve had plenty of winners on the flat but I’m new to having national hunt runners. I really liked the look of him and thought I’d give it a go for the craic!”

Private deal

Dan Skelton’s talented Great Pretender mare Cherie d’Am went unsold on Wednesday, but a private deal was later struck by J & A Young Racing for 47,500gns. Runner-up in the Grade 2 Jane Syemour Novices’ Hurdle and third in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle last season, the seven-year-old was offered out of training, due to an injury.

However, Skelton had noted that with time to recover, she could return to full training. The five-time winner had made a bright start over fences earlier this season, finishigna close third on her first attempt, before drawing clear in a listed contest. Sean McElroy went to 42,000gns for Lily Du Berlais, winner of the Grade 2 Mares’ Bumper at the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival and runner-up in the same race 12 months later. Jimmy Fyffe provided the next highest bid for a National Hunt offering, giving 38,000gns for Olly Murphy’s Grade 2 performer Static.

The lightly-raced Northern Ruler, who has dropped to a rating of 85 from a high of 93, will transfer to the yard of Michael O’Callaghan, after the trainer gave for the four-year-old colt.

The son of Kingman was originally sold to Richard Knight as a yearling for 500,000gns, but it later transpired his client Saleh Al Homaizi hadn’t paid his sales bills.

Subsequently purchased by Clipper Logistics, he placed on his first three starts for William Haggas, and after switching to Karl Burke, won a novice stakes impressively at Newcastle.

Of the 95 lots offered, 54 sold for an average price of 8,974gns and median price of 3,700gns.