Double Grade 1 Glory for Tattersalls Ireland graduates
Tattersalls Ireland graduates produced success at the highest level this weekend providing the winners of the two Grade 1's racing had on offer; the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle and the Grade 1 Lawlor's Hotel Novice Hurdle.
Tizzard finds another stable star in FINIAN'S OSCAR
Success for Colin Tizzard and Tattersalls Ireland go hand in hand. Graduates like CUE CARD, THISTLECRACK, NATIVE RIVER and ROYAL VACATION have all paved the way for yet another stable star in FINIAN'S OSCAR. Speculation prior to the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle on Saturday was that's FINIAN'S OSCAR was of superlative quality and this was confirmed when emphatically winning the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle at Sandown Park under a confident ride by Tom O'Brien.
The Ann and Alan Potts owned gelding, who was only making his third appearance in public when landing this Grade 1 contest, is a multiple Tattersalls Ireland graduate. He was offered initially as a foal at the November National Hunt Sale by his breeders Richard and Martin O'Keeffe. As a three-year-old he was purchased at the 2015 Derby Sale by Tower View Stables for €50,000 from Glenwood Stud. After winning his four-year-old Maiden Point-to-Point at Portrush, FINIAN'S OSCARwas the talking horse at the most recent Cheltenham November Sale and after fierce demand from all the industry leaders, Denis Murphy's Ballyboy Stables sold the son of Oscar to agent Tom Malone and trainer Colin Tizzard for £250,000.
Derby Sale DEATH DUTY rated Top Novice Hurdler after Grade 1 win at Naas
"At this stage, of all the good horses I have had, none of them were as good as this fella over hurdles" said Gold Cup winning trainer Gordon Elliott after his Derby Sale graduate DEATH DUTY won the Grade 1 Lawlor's Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas by an impressive margin of nine lengths. Nine weeks ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, DEATH DUTY is market leader for the Albert Bartlett and as of today, is rated the top Novice Hurdler in Ireland and Great Britain with a Timeform rating of 149p.
Gigginstown House Stud's Shantou gelding was sold at the 2014 Derby Sale. DEATH DUTY was sold by breeder Geoffrey Thompson's Morning Star Stud for €145,000 to the late Dessie Hughes.
Derby Sale graduate RED JACK lands first four-year-old Bumper of 2017
RED JACK, a graduate of the most recent 2016 Derby Sale, claimed the first four-year-old Bumper of 2017. Boasting a pedigree full of stamina, Noel Meade's son of Mahler produced a quality performance to win the Naas Bumper.
RED JACK was sold at the 2016 Derby Sale by Moyneard Stables for €23,000 to his trainer Noel Meade. He was previously sold as a foal at the 2013 November National Hunt Sale by Ballinamurragh Stables for €12,500 to Moyneard Stables.