Grade 3 Success For Derby Sale Graduate Ferny Hollow

The talented Derby Sale graduate Ferny Hollow made his long-awaited return to the racecourse in the Grade 3 Newlands Chase at Naas and produced an impressive performance to run out a five-length winner in the hands of Paul Townend.

The nine-year-old had not been seen since winning the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase in December 2021, but this performance proved he retains all of his ability.

A dual Grade 1 winner in the past, it was a third win over fences for the talented Cheveley Park Stud owned son of Westerner, who does hold an entry in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in 16 days.

He remains a very exciting prospect for the two-mile chasing division and is another high-profile Derby Sale graduate to have emerged from the Colin Bowe academy. He was purchased at the 2018 Derby Sale from Castletown Quarry Stud by JJ Bowe for €38,000. He was also purchased by Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale 2019 from Milestone Stables having won on his sole point-to-point start.

Another Derby Sale graduate to taste success was We’re Red And Blue who made a successful racecourse debut at Hereford for trainer Jonjo O’Neill. A four-year-old son of Blue Bresil, he was sold by Rathturtin Stud to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for €87,000 at the 2023 Derby Sale.

From a point-to-point perspective, Tattersalls Ireland Store sale graduates continue to make a significant impact in maidens. The four-year-old maidens at Punchestown and Kildorrery were both won by promising Derby Sale graduates.

They Want Me produced an impressive performance in the four-year-old maiden at Punchestown, coming home with two lengths to spare for trainer Mary Ellen Doyle. The four-year-old is a half-brother to the five-time winner Storm Control and was purchased for €16,000 at the 2023 Derby Sale from Belleville by Baltimore Stables.

Magic Boum provided Mary Ellen Doyle with her second four-year-old winner when taking the maiden at Kildorrery. The €22,000 purchase at the 2023 Derby Sale is a half-brother to a listed chase winner in France and judged on his debut performance looks a horse with a bright future.

The weekend success further demonstrates the talent emanating from the Tattersalls Ireland Store sales.

Small Town Hero landed the four-year-old at Farmacaffley, while Midnight Skye and Think It Through both created strong impressions when winning five-year-old mares maidens at Farmacaffley and Kildorrery. Think It Through is a full-sister to the Grade 2 winner Loughglynn, and was purchased for €14,000 at the 2022 May Store Sale from Peter Nolan Bloodstock by trainer Luke Murphy. She had previously been purchased at the 2019 November National Hunt Sale as a foal from Shanaville Stables by Sam Curling.

Additional Time who hails from the family of seven-time winner Ahorsewithnoname was another to create a favourable impression when winning the five-year-old geldings maiden at Punchestown. Trained by Matthew Flynn O’Connor, he quickly put distance between himself and his rivals and had six lengths to spare at the business end. He was purchased at the 2022 Derby Sale from Graigue Farm by Ger O’Connor and Jim O’Neill.

Entries are now being taken for the 2024 Store sales.