Record median at the February National Hunt Sale
Tattersalls Ireland February National Hunt Sale picked up from where 2019 left off with the record-breaking National Hunt trade mirroring the strong business seen at the November National Hunt Sale.
This year's opening one-day sale posted a record median price of €9,250, an increase of 23% on 2019's figure which was also a record, an average price of €11,482, the second-best in the sale's history, and a turnover of €1,928,950.
The sale's top lot, a €60,000 son of the progressive French sire No Risk At All (Lot 259), was bought by agent Ryan Mahon and owner Colm Donlon, the pair seeing off underbidder agent Hamish Macauley.
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"He has been bought to race and heads to Britain," said Mahon of the Rahinston Stud offered April born colt. "He is a lovely foal, strong, correct and athletic. He is by a sire who is going places and the mare has done it already.
"There are no training plans as yet, but he could even be a sort to send to race in France as a three-year-old and then bring back to Britain."
A packed sales ring welcomed Lot 44, a colt by the late Mount Nelson and a half-brother to the dual Grade 1 winner Battleoverdoyen. The expectant audience was not disappointed with the June born colt selling for €55,000 and purchased by Aiden Murphy.
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He was consigned by breeder Caroline J Berry with son Chris, who are based in Banbridge, Co Down.
"We bought his dam Battle Over in France as a maiden mare through Highflyer Bloodstock," said Berry, who has nine NH mares at home. "She is only small but she throws sizeable foals. She has been a lot of fun for us. She is empty at the moment, but will probably return to Doyen. Mount Nelson was a gorgeous stallion, we loved him and it's such a shame he has gone."
Murphy said: "This colt was a fairly obvious one really with that pedigree - it is improving too. I have not bought any before by Mount Nelson, but he is a very promising sire of NH horses. This colt has been bought to come back to the Derby Sale."
Jim Mernagh went to €42,000 for Lot 130, a son of the late sire Network, signing on behalf of buyer J and J.
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When asked what he liked about the Thistletown Stud-consigned youngster, Mernagh said: "He's a Network! There were only six foals by the sire last year so this lad will have some rarity when he sells. This is a smashing colt."
At the conclusion of the February National Hunt Sale, Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell commented;
"Following on from last year's record breaking one-day February National Hunt Sale, today's sale saw strong trade for choice lots, and it was particularly pleasing for the sale to produce the highest median on record.
"We look forward to sponsoring the €150,000 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) at the Dublin Racing Festival this coming weekend. This sponsorship is part of the Tattersalls overall commitment to Irish racing with an annual sponsorship of races worth €1,750,000. Tattersalls is also the leading sponsor of Point to Points in Ireland.
"We now focus on our upcoming store sales where applications for the May Store Sale and the Derby Sale close this Friday together with the one-day select August National Hunt Sale where nominations close in February."