THE inclusion of flat stock for the first time has seen Tattersalls Ireland rebrand what was the February NH Sale as the Winter Flat and National Hunt Sale, which takes place on Tuesday, January 28th, beginning at 10.30am.

A total of 186 lots are catalogued - less than any in the sale’s history - and the slimming of offerings should help to improve statistics, following a selective market for young National Hunt stock in 2024. Figures fell at last year’s sale, where 57% of the 162 lots offered found a buyer, from an initial catalogue of 194 catalogued. The average price of €11,174 was the lowest since 2017, while the median of €7,000 was the lowest since 2016.

Walshtown leads the way

The sale had been on a significant rise since then though, and the 2024 high of €62,000 was strong in comparison to previous years. Glenvale Stud provided the highest bid for a Blue Bresil colt from Walshtown Stables, who also sold the second highest priced lot, another Blue Bresil colt, knocked down to Niall Bleahen for €50,000.

The Murphy family’s East Cork operation also consigned the top lot at the 2023 edition and are set to offer five yearlings at next week’s renewal. They include a colt by the sire that did so well for them 12 months ago – Blue Bresil. Offered on behalf of Edmond Coleman as Lot 172, the February-born bay is out of an own-sister to Lord Windermere.

Blue Bresil is responsible for 12 yearlings catalogued, including a half-brother to Grade 3 winner French Light (Lot 49) and a half-sister to the graded performer Knockanard Lady (137). The nine lots by champion sire Walk In The Park include yearlings out of half-sisters to Envoi Allen (Lot 58) and Chacun Pour Soi (Lot 40).

The latter hails from Marie Harding’s Glen Stables, who sold the sale’s most recent blacktype graduate, Dedicated Hero, the winner of a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Haydock last weekend. Harding will offer the very first lot into the ring, a colt from the first Irish crop of Storm The Stars. Coolagown Stud’s recruit recently sired an impressive winner in Funiculi Funicula, with Willie Mullins’ charge now 16/1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Beeches Stud bluebloods

The Beeches Stud sold one of the sale’s best graduates, multiple Grade 1 winning chaser Flemenstar, and offer two of the most well-related lots in next week’s sale. Lot 90 is a Crystal Ocean half-brother to Champion Bumper heroine Relegate, while Lot 45 is a Mahler own-sister to Grade 2-winning hurdler Shanagh Bob.

The Galbertstown Stables draft is also expected to be popular, featuring a Jukebox Jury filly out of listed winner and Grade 2 performer Duhallow Gesture, whose Walk In The Park colt foal sold for €100,000 in December 2022. Their Order Of St George colt (Lot 87) appeals as a son of multiple Grade 3 winner Knockfierna, while Lot 144 is the sole offering by Karaktar, whose fee jumped from €4,500 to €12,000 last year, following his impressive start at stud.

Lot 21 from Diamond Stud appears to be the standout of the flat-bred stock. The three-year-old filly by Hello Youmzain is a half-sister to three stakes performers, out of an Italian Group 3 winner.

The three flat-bred two-year-olds include a Gleneagles colt (Lot 7) out of a Dark Angel half-sister to three stakes horses, from the family of Flotus. A half-brother to Group 3 performer Sea Of Marengo (Lot 103) is among five flat-bred yearlings catalogued.