The Gordon Elliott-trained Caldwell Potter, who won the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown and is as short as 10-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, will race for a partnership comprising John Hales, Ged Mason, Sir Alex Ferguson and Peter Done. 

Bromley commented, “You just don't get these rare commodities come on the market. My heart was skyrocketing when I was watching El Fabiolo jumping at Leopardstown yesterday, but this was far more nerve-wracking!

“I have bought him for great clients John Hales, Ged Mason, Sir Alex Ferguson and Peter Done, who have a lovely horse in Kalif Du Berlais and this horse will join him at Paul Nicholls.”

Elliott put up a determined fight to keep Caldwell Potter at Cullentra House Stables and finished up as underbidder on the horse who was spoken about as a potential Gold Cup prospect by Bromley.

The agent continued, “He is a standout, a lovely horse, I loved him as a youngster as a store. I have watched his career closely – he has only been running over two miles yet he looks a stayer. He may potentially be a Gold Cup horse, long term.

“I can't say what plans Paul will have for the horse and we will see how it all works out, obviously there are the Cheltenham entries and Aintree would be a consideration, but he has been bought really as a chaser of the future.”

The session turnover of €5,290,000 for the 29 lots on offer was a record-breaking aggregate for a one-day boutique National Hunt Sale. The average price for the session was €182,414.

Staffordshire Knot finished the afternoon's trade as the most expensive horse that Elliott managed to keep a hold of on €510,000. Elliott also signed for Sa Fureur, Doctor Elvis and Chemical Energy, bringing his total spend to €1,315,000, while prominent buyers for the stable such as Mags O'Toole stepped in to buy other smart prospects on behalf of current owners within the stable.

Elliott commented, “I was disappointed to lose the big horse, but that is the way it is – hopefully he will be lucky for the new owners. Pied Piper is coming back and we have got all the ones we wanted apart from Caldwell Potter.

“Staffordshire Knot is an exciting six-year-old and we are delighted we have bought him. The horses all looked great – we only had a week's notice for this sale and it is a credit to the staff.”

Simon Kerins, chief executive at Tattersalls Ireland, described staging the dispersal as an honour before labelling the sale as “a phenomenal success.”

He said, “First and foremost, I extend my sincere gratitude to Andy and Gemma Brown, as well as Joey Logan, for entrusting us with their dispersal sale, it has been an honour.

“I would like to express my appreciation to Gordon Elliott and his team – every single horse in this draft has been produced looking in superb order and, finally, the Tattersalls Ireland team for turning this sale around at such speed. It is testament to the team's professionalism and hard work, proof of the flexibility that we have and ability to act as the industry requires.

“The sale has been a phenomenal success and the figures paid have been mind blowing. We knew these horses would be in high demand given their proven level of form, and all the big players were here today.

“We look forward to watching today's sales horses going on to achieve great things on the racecourse, and we hope to see the Browns return to the racing scene in the near future.

“We now look ahead to the National Hunt Store season and inspections, which, of course, will be highlighted by the 50th year of the industry-leading Derby Sale on June 26-27th.”

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“The necessary steps in response to this tragic incident commenced immediately after the race on Sunday and have continued [Monday],” stated a joint-statement from the BHA and PPA. “The BHA are visiting the site and will work with the PPA, the racecourse and attending medical teams to ensure that the incident is fully reviewed. All of the relevant bodies will also assist the police and/or Environmental Health Officer with any enquiries they wish to make.”

The statement continued, “The medical facilities and teams at Charing racecourse on Sunday were fully compliant with the required standards and included two racecourse doctors and three fully equipped ambulances with paramedic crews.”

“The medical team attended Mr. Kirkby within 30 seconds of his fall. Further support was provided by 999 road and air ambulances. Despite the immediate medical attention, the injuries were of such an extent that it was not possible to save Mr. Kirkby's life. It is important that, with any incident such as this, we do all that we can to understand what caused it, and whether there is anything we can learn from it.”

“There is a risk attached to racing which can never be entirely removed, but we are committed to ensure that we assess every incident and use any findings to help continually improve our safety record.”

“Our thoughts remain with Keagan Kirkby's family and his many friends and colleagues from within the racing industry and beyond. The Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) are coordinating support for the Kirkby family, his places of work and any staff member or participant at the event.”

Tributes Pour In..

“Tragically sad news. My thoughts are with Keagan's family, friends and everyone at Ditcheat.”–-Sir Anthony McCoy

“Every now and then, things happen that make you regain perspective. A very sad day for racing. Love to those who lost a friend.”-Trainer Fergal O'Brien

“A terrible tragedy. Keagan loved his job and was an integral part of Team Ditcheat.”--Nicholls' stable jockey Harry Cobden

“A heartbreaking day, Keagan was as kind and enthusiastic a guy you could meet. We started at Paul's on the same day four and a half years ago and became great friends. I am and always will be proud to be your friend and will miss you greatly.”–Assistant trainer Charlie Davies

“Heartbroken is an understatement, to have you as a best friend has been the biggest privilege life has given to me. Such a kind soul and an absolute gentleman and to know that I won't be able to give you a hug and catch up with you anymore tears me up.”–Ditcheat team member Scott Sainsbury

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In a statement released by the Injured Jockeys Fund, the 14-time Champion National Hunt trainer, with whom Kirkby was based, described Kirkby as “one of our best, hardworking lads.”

Nicholls said, “Life is so hard sometimes, winners totally insignificant compared to what has happened today. Sadly, Keagan Kirkby, one of our best, hardworking lads lost his life today riding in a point-to-point. All at Team Ditcheat are mortified. Thoughts with all his friends and family.”

According to the IFJ, the incident occurred on the second circuit of the final race, when the rider's mount ran out through the wing of a fence. Despite immediate attention by the on-course medical team as well as additional support from a 999 Helicopter Emergency Services crew, Kirkby could not be saved.

Kirkby joined Nicholls's operation in 2019 and had been awarded employee of the month in December 2021. He was also shortlisted for the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in the Rider/Groom category for 2024.

“We are devastated to hear the tragic news regarding the fatal injuries sustained by Keagan Kirkby. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and everyone at the yard of Paul Nicholls. The entire Racing industry will be in mourning at the loss of someone so young and with such potential,” said British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Chief Executive Julie Harrington.

“The esteem in which he was held is clear from the fact that he was nominated for the Rider/Groom category of the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, and made it through to the final 10 in his category. The nomination spoke of Keagan's qualities as a thoughtful rider who develops a personal bond with his horses, understands their characters and adapts his riding accordingly, as well as his affable, helpful nature and popularity on the yard. We call on everyone to respect the privacy of Keagan's family and the Paul Nicholls yard.”

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Formerly under the now defunct Tattersalls Ascot umbrella, the sale averaged 10,106gns, and the median was 5,000gns.
Horses owned by Rabbah Bloodstock were offered by a variety of agents and filled the top three spots, with wildcard entry Midnight Lion (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) (lot 79) bringing 85,000gns from Nick Taylor, assistant to Tom Malone Bloodstock, to top the day. The recent Goodwood winner, who was offered by Kingsley Park, will now move on to a jumps career.

“He was clearly the pick of the day for us, and he has been bought for Paul Nicholls,” Taylor said. “We liked him when we saw him, Nathaniel is a big plus to go jumping, he has a lovely soft ground action and is just the type of horse we are looking for. He has the size and Charlie Johnston was very positive about him.”

Stephensen Bloodstock went to 72,000gns to secure the second-highest priced lot of the day, the 3-year-old Laafi (Fr) (Cloth of Stars {Ire}) (lot 74). The winner of the EBF Stallions Golden Horn Maiden S. at Nottingham last year was consigned by Somerville Lodge. She is out of the Smart Strike mare Mediterenea (Fr), who is a half-sister to multiple Group/Grade 1 winner and sire Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

The 4-year-old filly Timeless Melody (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 51) rounded out the top three on the day when the hammer fell at 42,000gns for the Leicester novice winner. Matt Coleman of Stroud Coleman Bloodstock signed the ticket for the daughter of Dufay (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who came from the Somerville Lodge consignment. The filly's second dam is Group 1 winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer).

“She has been bought for Alec Waugh's Normandy-based Jedburgh Stud,” Coleman said. “Alec has had a lot of luck, as many people have, with mares by Teofilo–he is a phenomenal broodmare sire, and just getting better and better.”

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That was the highest average posted by any buyer on day one, however, it was the point-to-point outfit Monbeg Stables who posted the highest aggregate spend by signing for 15 lots to the tune of €784,000.

Of the 224 horses offered at Goffs on day one, 204 were sold for an aggregate of €10,862,500, representing a €53,248 average.

Zamek was picked up as a two-year-old from Precolette at the mixed sale at Arqana last July for €70,000. Out of the Sinndar (Ire) mare Zanatiya (Fr), the gelding is a half-brother to the classy jumps performer Zarisk (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}).

Beaumec De Houelle is a son of Martaline and fittingly stands at Haras de Montaigu for €6,000. A Grade 1-winning hurdler himself, his first crop are just three years' old.

On the day one headline act, Nicholls commented, “He is a lovely, sharp horse and we're delighted to get him. He actually reminds me a lot of Call Equiname, who was a similarly lovely-looking grey horse. Hopefully he can be as good as him.”

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“It's been a fantastic season with some fantastic horses that have been very consistent all through the campaign and we are obviously thrilled,” said Nicholls. “It reflects very well on the whole team and everyone involved that we've had a 28% strike rate right through from October until now, which is the best we've ever achieved.”

Bravemansgame (Fr) (Brave Mansonnien {Fr}), as well as Cheltenham Festival winners Stay Away Fay (Ire) (Shantou) and Stage Star (Ire) (Fame And Glory {Ire}), where some of the leading lights of the stable during the season.

“We want to compete at the highest level and we're getting there again,” the trainer added. “It's like with a football team–they might win the Premiership and then go away for four or five years before coming back. It's all about the players on the team.”

JP McManus, who won his 20th Irish Champion Owner title this year, earned his 15th British Champion Jumps Owner award. Later in the day, his Under Control (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}) won the bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle.

Brian Hughes won the Champion NH Jockey title for the third time with 165 winners. He is already focusing on attempting a fourth title, and beating his tally of 204 winners during the 2021-2022 season. His family was on hand at the racecourse on Saturday.

“There's a bus load at Sandown,” the jockey said, regarding his family and friends who traveled to watch the presentation. “I organised for a bus to take all the family down there. There's my wife and kids and then her parents and my parents and plenty of others, so logistically it seemed the right thing to do. It's a long way to go in cars and getting on a bus together takes the stress away.

“Everything was behind closed doors when I won my first title, but the welcome I got last year was great. I'm not really one for fanfare or anything like that, but my family had a good day.”

Luca Morgan was named the Champion Conditional Jockey. Morgan rode 45 winners through the 2022-2023 season for his boss, trainer Ben Pauling.

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Exactly a year ago the sleek dark brown gelding appeared to be about to back up his first Cheltenham success in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle with victory in the G1 Turners Novices' Chase when, with a 12-length lead in hand, he crumpled on landing over the final fence. With three more confidence-restoring Grade 1 wins to his credit since that luckless day, including the Irish Gold Cup, Galopin Des Champs has now added the big one to the Gold Cup roll of honour, his name permanently etched on the list of winners including such greats as Golden Miller and Arkle.

His victory left no small amount of drama in its wake as the long-term leader Ahoy Senor (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) fell at the 17th fence, bringing down Sounds Russian (Ire) (Sholokhov {Ire}) in the melee, after the 2021 winner Minella Indo (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}) had already cried enough and been pulled up early in the second circuit. Last year's winner, A Plus Tard (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}), representing the resurgent Henry de Bromhead stable, could not match his heroics of 12 months ago, and he too was eased down by Rachael Blackmore as the leaders started to draw away with three left to jump. Most heartbreaking of all was seeing the game Eclipse Award winner Hewick (Ire) (Virtual {GB}) make a bold go from the front after Ahoy Senor's departure, only to fall himself at the second-last fence.

Thirteen starters had faced the judge and only seven crossed the line. Galopin Des Champs was simply too good for the best of the British contenders, Bravemansgame (Fr) (Brave Mansonnien {Fr}), whose faultless round, and particularly his never-say-die effort at the last under Harry Cobden, could leave his supporters dreaming of Gold Cups to come for the 8-year-old after he finished seven lengths adrift in second. Conflated (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) posted a similarly solid performance to take third for Gordon Elliott and the Gigginstown House Stud team, while last year's Grand National winner, Noble Yeats (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}), who looked beaten a long way out, called upon his great reserves of stamina to rally to take fourth for Emmet Mullins.

Usually unflappable and once again the leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with six winners across the four days, Willie Mullins nevertheless admitted to some nerves as he watched Paul Townend guide Galopin Des Champs to the stable's third win in the Gold Cup.

“I didn't realise what pressure I was under,” he said. “I'm absolutely delighted for Audrey and Greg Turley and for Paul, who was under huge pressure too. He had the confidence to drop him in and come through.

“They were going to plenty fast enough so I didn't want him up in there in the early stages. I thought if he has the class he will come through. All thoughts were going through my head; one or two fell and we missed all that, so we had a lot of luck as well. I think that man on board when the pressure comes on he is very good. I was surprised myself how I was over the last two fences.”

Mullins added, “He has that little bit of class: you could run him over two miles, two and a half miles. He has that little bit of speed when you want it. You just have to conserve it. Over those shorter trips he likes to get on with the job and that was to me the whole key today, not to let him get running early on in the race.”

Stay Away Fay Stays All Day

Despite having to settle for second in the Gold Cup, Paul Nicholls had made his second visit to the winner's spot this week earlier in the day when Stay Away Fay (Ire) (Shantou) took advantage of a bizarre last-flight run-out by favourite Corbetts Cross (Ire) (Gamut {Ire}) to win the G1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

“He's a very smart young horse, and he'll improve for the summer,” said the champion trainer. “I knew he would win turning in, because he's a very, very strong stayer. Well, I hoped he'd win, because I knew he wouldn't stop.

“He looked fantastic and to me he ran how he looked. That was only his third race under Rules and there's lots of improvement to come from him.”

French Fab Four 

It is hard to imagine anyone ever repeating Michael Dickinson's extraordinary feat of training the first five home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Willie Mullins is rarely short-handed in the major races and he got Gold Cup day off to the perfect start when being responsible for the first four home in the G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle. 

The favourite Lossiemouth (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}) had been beaten just once in her nascent career and she made amends for that blip when second at Fairyhouse last month by overhauling her conqueror that day, stable-mate Gala Marceau (Fr) (Galiway {GB}). That pair was followed home by two more familiar faces in Zenta (Fr) (Pastorius {Ger}) and Gust Of Wind (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}), making it a quartet of French-breds to the fore in the juvenile contest. 

To put Mullins's feat in context, he saddled seven of the 15 runners for the race he has won in three of the last four years. 

While Lossiemouth's owner Rich Ricci appeared to pour cold water on the idea of the smart filly switching to staying races on the Flat, he did leave the door open for another of his stars to be seen on the level this summer.

“I think she has got enough boot to go on the Flat but my view would be to go to Punchestown and put her away for next season. She is only four so maybe in two years' time she will go for the Champion Hurdle, depending on Constitution Hill and the rest of the field. You are asking me the same question that Willie asked me about going to the Flat with her and I'm not sure we have to. Vauban is a better question, to go on the Flat with him, because he has a good Flat rating.”

French-bred jumpers have been particularly prevalent this week at Cheltenham, with the feature races on three of the four days falling to Energumene (Fr), Sire Du Berlais (Fr) and Galopin Des Champs. Exactly half of the 28 winners at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival were bred across the Channel. 

Impervious Delights Small Breeder O'Doherty

The Colm Murphy-trained Impervious (Ire) (Shantou) gave owner JP McManus his first of two winners on the day when turning over the hot favourite Allegorie De Vassy (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}) on the run-in in the G2 Paddy Power Mares' Chase, in turn providing a truly memorable result for her small breeder Tom O'Doherty.

“I'm absolutely over the moon,” said O'Doherty, whose sole broodmare is Impervious's dam Blodge (Ire) (Kalanisi {Ire}).  “My sister bought Blodge at the Tattersalls sales in 2017. A lot of people won't know, but Impervious's grand-dam Bilboa (Fr) was placed in the [2002] Champion Hurdle, so it came out somewhere.”

He continued,”I saw Blodge win a point-to-point in Ireland a long, long time ago and she came from a very good family. She came from a very good place, the Kenilworth House Stud in Clonmel, and I love the pedigree. Bilboa was a feisty lady as well. She's inherited all of it.”
O'Doherty added. “It's been wonderful. Little did I think when I sold my foal for €4,000 that JP McManus would end up buying her and she would end up winning at Cheltenham.
“I saw two fences, I could not watch, my heart was in my mouth even though she is a fantastic jumper. I knew she wouldn't let me down. Once she got into battle, I knew she'd outbattle the rest. She's a terrier, and the mare at home is a terrier as well.”

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Still only eight, the front-running Flooring Porter went out, as usual, with all guns blazing in an attempt to get his hat-trick up in the race, only folding when turning for home as he was reeled in by the chasing pack. Dashel Drasher (GB) (Passing Glance {GB}) took up the running and momentarily looked as though he would deliver a dream first Festival victory for Jeremy Scott. The trainer, whose wife Camilla bred Dashel Drasher, was magnanimous in his post-race comments after his stable star crossed the line still holding onto second place, though that was later taken from him in the stewards' room and handed to Teahupoo (Fr) (Masked Marvel {GB}), giving Gordon Elliott a one-two in the Stayers' Hurdle and his first Grade 1 of the week.

Arguably, though, the day again belonged to Henry de Bromhead, who recorded his 20th Festival victory and his third of the week with Envoi Allen, a former resident of Elliott's stable, and who had disappointed when well beaten into seventh in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. His owner, Cheveley Park Stud, has only become properly involved with jump racing in the last few years and from the select team racing for Patricia Thompson and her son Richard, there has been incredible success in that time, including being leading owner at the Cheltenham Festival for each of the previous two years. The Ryanair Chase, in particular, has been a lucky race for them, with the currently sidelined Allaho (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}) having won the last two runnings. 

De Bromhead said, “It's great for the Thompsons as they are great supporters of ours and the industry. It's just brilliant.

“I kept saying to Richard that [Envoi Allen] was as good as he was before he went to Kempton. I was so happy with him before the King George, we really fancied him, but like a few of ours who went to England in the first half of the season, he just never showed up.”

De Bromhead, who had to settle for second and third in Mares' Novices' Hurdle named in memory of his son Jack, added, “The amount of people, our friends and family who have travelled over, and Michael O'Leary and Ryanair naming the race in honour of Jack, makes this week very special.”

On Friday, the de Bromhead-trained A Plus Tard (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}) will attempt to defend his Gold Cup crown for a team which appears to have hit peak form just at the right time.

The day's racing was, rather strangely, labelled St Patrick's Thursday, despite the real St Patrick's Day being 24 hours later. But it was largely a good day for raiders from across the sea, with five Irish trainers being represented by a winner. For John McConnell in particular it was a memorable occasion as Seddon (Ire) (Stowaway {GB}) romped to glory in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase to give the trainer and his jockey Ben Harvey a first Festival winner. Another young rider, Liam McKenna, also shed his Cheltenham maiden tag aboard Good Time Jonny (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}) in the Pertemps Final for Tony Martin. The 8-year-old's owners, Aidan Shiels, Donal Gavigan and Niall Reilly, had made the long trip from New York to Prestbury Park and will likely float home across the Atlantic. The trio had also been involved in a decent horse on the Flat in the 2016 Melbourne Cup runner-up Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}).

Thursday's results did not all go Ireland's way, however. In the opening G1 Turners Novices' Chase, the flamboyant 7-year-old Stage Star (Ire) (Fame And Glory {GB}) brought back memories of his talented tearaway of a mother, Sparky May (GB) (Midnight Legend {GB}), a Grade 2-winning hurdler who found only Quevega (Fr) too good when challenging for the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2011. Hers was something of a fairytale, her dam Glassy Appeal (Glassy Dip) having been bought by owner/breeder Bill Muddyman of Huxley Holdings with the idea of breeding a few show jumpers. Well her descendants can jump, that's for sure, and Stage Star, the best of Sparky May's three winning offspring to date, looked very well named as he made all, meeting each fence beautifully under Harry Cobden to give Britain's champion trainer Paul Nicholls a first strike at the meeting.

Sparky May, now 18, is a boarder at David and Tamso Cox's Baroda Stud in Ireland. Though Bill Muddyman, a former chairman of Fulham Football Club, died in 2020, his son Andy has continued his breeding interests.
“She's doing really well and delivered a Walk In The Park colt on 19 February,” reported David Cox, who added that the mare also has a 2-year-old filly by Harzand (Ire) on the way through.

It has been a good week for the boarders of Baroda Stud, which is also home to Game Of Legs (Fr) (Hernando {Fr}), whose son Gaelic Warrior (Ger) was runner-up in Wednesday's G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. The mare will be returning to his sire Maxios (GB) this season, while Sparky May will again visit Walk In The Park.

The late Muddyman was not the only football club chairman connected to a winner on Thursday. The 83-year-old Sir Chips Keswick, whose colours were carried to victory by You Wear It Well (GB) (Midnight Legend {GB}) in the G2 Jack de Bromhead Mares' Novices' Hurdle, was chairman of Arsenal FC until 2020. His nephew Ben Keswick is the owner of Rockliffe Stud, owner-breeder of Group 1 winner Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and last season's G2 Flying Childers winner Trillium (GB) (No Nay Never).

The Dream Begins Again

With darkness attempting to claim the parade ring ahead of one last day of Festival action, there was a final bit of business to be conducted under the spotlights. The Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale, which has been in existence for seven years, has the catchline 'See you in the winner's enclosure', which is both literal and aspirational.

The auction staged therein comes with the implication that its expensive graduates will return to that hallowed ground one day to collect a Festival trophy. Love Envoi (Ire) (Westerner {GB}) did just that by landing last year's G2 Mares' Novices' Hurdle after being sold for £38,000 in 2021, and she only narrowly failed in her attempt when second to Honeysuckle (GB) in Tuesday's G1 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle. At the pricier end of the market was Gerri Colombe (Fr) (Saddler Maker {Ire}), bought for £240,000 and beaten just a short-head on Wednesday in the G1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. Bravemansgame (Fr) (Brave Mansonnien {Fr}), a £370,000 purchase in 2019, could yet give the sale the ultimate cachet if he obliges in Friday's G1 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Plenty don't make the grade of course, but that hasn't stopped owners backing this boutique event to the tune of £16.5 million in the first six years, raised through the sale of 114 horses. Another 19 horses (76%) changed hands on Thursday evening, for a total of £3,405,000 and average of £179,211.

Sharing the top spot on the leaderboard were two 4-year-old geldings, Romeo Coolio (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}) and Jalon d'Oudairies (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}), both consigned by Donnchadh Doyle's Monbeg Stables and bought for £420,000 apiece by Gordon Elliott. Romeo Coolio will race for the Keep The Dream Alive syndicate.

“These are the sort of horses we want, we thought they were the two best horses in the sale,” said the trainer. Of Jalon d'Oudairies he added, “We don't have an owner yet, but we will have by the time the night is out.”
Romeo Coolio will race for the Keep The Dream Alive syndicate.

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It begs the question, why is Monbeg Park lining out for Doyle and not any of the powerhouse stables in Sunday's G1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle?

After all, Doyle has earned a reputation for selling future stars rather than racing them and can count a Cheltenham Festival-winning graduate to his roll of honour almost every year since Holywell (Ire) broke that particular duck in 2013. 

Horses like The Last Samuri (Ire), Invitation Only (Ire) and American Mike (Ire) have also passed through this renowned County Wexford production line. 

Meanwhile, a couple of hundred yards across the field, his brother Donnchadh has blooded Paul Nicholls' latest King George winner Bravemansgame (Fr) and stablemate Tahmuras (Fr), winner of the G1 Tolworth Novices Hurdle on Saturday. 

The Doyles have mastered the craft of buying National Hunt stores and turning them into red-hot commodities. However, Monbeg Park was never going to be a selling prospect due to the fact he picked up a minor injury earlier on in his career. 

Doyle explained, “The big day for us is not the day these horses win their point or even the day we get paid for them. It's the day they win for the next man. You can't grind them out to win their point. They need to train on. 

“We're running a business here and repeat business is important. Even Monbeg Park there, he's grand now and we're getting a great run out of him, but you could never sell a horse like him. We could have sold him but you are risking losing the sale of a different horse a year or two down the line if you did.”

The 38-year-old added, “He had a small suspensory problem. Willie Mullins actually came to look at him twice and he was close to chancing him. When you are talking about a horse to go chasing, he's exactly what you'd want. To be fair to him, he's won his bumper and maiden hurdle and has placed twice. In six runs he's been very consistent. We're dreaming that he'll win a big chase for us some day. He's a big quality-looking horse but you just couldn't sell him for fear of him not standing up to training for the next man.”

Any hopes of a six-figure sale with Monbeg Park may have been dashed when he damaged his suspensory but a new dream stares back at Doyle, who is quietly excited about his first runner in Grade 1 company.

 “We were actually a little disappointed with him at Cork but it was our own fault. We got caught with the frost and didn't do a lot with him. He was way too fresh and we rode him upsides in front and Bryan [Cooper] rode him like a slow horse. We might have been better off riding a waiting race with him and, while I don't think we'd have won, he would have run a nicer race if we rode him differently. We made too much use of him. 

“He's in great form now and, as long as we can keep him sound, there should be a lot of fun to be had with him. He's the classiest horse I've ever run on the track anyway.”

Sean Doyle (left) with Colin Bowe | Tattersalls

This place has been a soundtrack to classy horses for over a decade now. What was once a busy dairy farm has developed into a multi-million euro point-to-point operation with even Doyle admitting his surprise as to how quickly things have taken off. 

“We started in 2008 which was the time of the recession so you could buy horses fairly cheap back then. One of the first horses we sold was Rudemeister (Ire). He cost €6,500 and we sold him for £75,000 after he won his point. Then we bought a horse called Padge (Ire) for €16,000, which was a lot of money back then, but for luck he went on and made £160,000. We've been very lucky and are blessed that the father had the land here for us. If we didn't have that, we wouldn't be doing it to the level that we are.”

He added, “We are able to run a fairly tight ship. Everything is on site and we don't have to go away an awful lot and we have all our own haylage so it's very doable. I spent a summer with Willie Mullins as a young lad but we all love point-to-pointing and learned as we went along. You learn from your mistakes. 

“We never went away to any big trainer for any long period of time or anything like that. It's always been drilled into me from a young age to take money when it's being offered. Don't ever be sorry for selling. Then, when we kept selling, the whole thing kept rotating and the money kept coming.

“The thing that would frighten you is that we got into millions of euros very quickly. From a few thousand here and there, our turnover shot into the millions. It's very easy to do it when you've the numbers we have but, as I said, we're lucky we can do a lot of the work ourselves to keep the costs down.”

They say that faith is believing in something when common sense might advise otherwise. Doyle, along with his brothers Donnchadh, Cormac and Gearoid, would invest over €2 million a year in National Hunt stores. 

Fellow Countymen Colin Bowe and Denis Murphy could also invest seven figures in a given year which goes some way to illustrating Wexford's status in producing jumps horses. Call it what you like, but this is high stakes poker and there are only so many Monbeg Parks an operation the size of Doyle's can carry. Every horse is important here. Every horse is contributing. 

“You don't open the post from June to the following May,” he jokes. “It's only then when you'd start worrying about what's left over! It's a risky game but sometimes you're better off not thinking about the risks involved and you're better off thinking about the rewards. It's gone great for us and you'd never have dreamed we'd be operating at the level that we are. We could end up broke yet but we'll keep going for another few years please God. 

“When things are going well for you, there's no better feeling. We've gone through a fair bit since we started in fairness. We started out during a recession and managed to keep going and then there was Brexit, a worldwide pandemic and now there's a war. The average spend this year was up to about 40 grand whereas it dropped to about 25 grand during Covid.”

He added, “The sales companies have been very good to us from the start. At the end of the day, these horses have to be paid for. Between us all [Donnchadh, Gearoid, Sean and Cormac], we're only spending about two and a half million a year. If you get three good horses to any of those boutique sales, that's a million quid back straight away. You have to be thinking forward the whole time. There's plenty of those 20 or 30 grand stores who finish second and go on to make 50, 60 or 70 grand. They still leave a lot of money behind in one season. They only have to leave us about 12 grand per head. But even those 10 and 15 grand horses, it's highly important to get that for them because you need the clearance as well. They all add up.

“Horses are going to let you down every day of the week but you can't be thinking that way. I know plenty of lads who started out at this and they were worrying about money and worrying about this and that. If you're worrying about money, it's not really the job for you. You have to let it unfold in front of you. When you get a run of good luck, you have to be ready to take it. You see some of the lads who have been with us, the likes of my younger brother Cormac with 40 horses and Rob James with 30 horses, they'd have seen what we went through and there's a certain amount of calmness with those lads as well. They'll wait and wait and let it happen rather than trying to force it.”

The National Hunt game is a completely different ballgame to when Doyle set out buying and selling in 2008. In many ways, he and his contemporaries between the flags have had a massive role to play in the revolution of the sport. 

Following a similar trajectory to the breeze-up sphere, where the demand for ready-made winners-in-waiting has soared, the point-to-point handlers have experienced a similar shot in the arm of their business. 

Not only has there been a clamour for point winners, but the short supply of Flat horses to go jumping has developed into a perfect storm which has resulted in the point-to-point horse with form selling for a premium. 

Doyle explained, “The top end National Hunt store is going point-to-pointing now, which is kind of crazy when you think about it, but it suits the next man who wants the big Saturday horse. He doesn't have to go buying 10 stores to find it. He can wait and see them win their point-to-point and just buy one or two. Look at the horses who have come out of here recently–Bravemansgame, Love Envoi (Ire), American Mike–there's loads. I actually think the best is yet to come, too.”

He added, “Those Flat stayers who are making big money to go to Hong Kong and Australia–that has brought us point-to-point men back in at a big level. There was a time those horses would be sold to go jumping but they're gone unaffordable now. If the demand for those Flat horses can be maintained, then we are safe. 

“Even our 30 grand horse, if they've got any sort of form at all, they'll slot into the north of England no problem. Whereas, there was a time the trainers up there would head down to Ascot to buy six or seven castoffs from the Flat to go jumping for the same money. They can't do that anymore. 

“But the top end is fairly scarce. Even for us to get the three or four hundred grand for one, they have to win their point but they also have to have the pedigree, size and scope and good conformation as well.”

The parallels between buying National Hunt horses who can jump and gallop three miles on heavy ground to sourcing a yearling who can go on and clock a good time at the breeze-ups as a 2-year-old may not be plain to see for everyone. 

But, in an effort to maintain cash flow and more crucially in a bid to retain staff throughout the summer, Doyle has revealed an audacious plan to branch out into breezers and this particular wheel has already been set to motion. 

“We've put in a three-and-a-half furlong uphill carpet gallop to run alongside our sand gallop on the hill. The reason for that is that we'd like to start training 2-year-olds. Donnchadh and myself will do the 2-year-olds and they'll run in my name but there'll be a few other lads involved with us I'd say. We'll probably do a few breezers as well. The carpet gallop would be great for breezers.”

He added, “The whole thinking behind it all is that we're carrying a lot of staff all year round and it would be something to keep everyone ticking over from May until the autumn because we can't afford to lose staff anymore. I bought a couple of 2-year-olds last year but they were no good. We've four this year–two colts and two fillies. We'll probably run the colts. The Invincible Army (Ire) came out of the Orby. He cost €80,000. The other fella is by Churchill (Ire) and he cost €45,000 at the Sportsman's. It's something we'd like to develop.”

A tapestry of Grade 1 horses have emerged from these Monbeg stables down through the years. Until now, Doyle has never had a chance to secure a top-level triumph in his own name. Step forward Monbeg Park. 

Sean Doyle | Tattersalls

Doyle on . . . the National Hunt sires

There's a big opening for a sire over jumps. Anything could come through because there are not enough No Risk At All (Fr)s, Walk In The Parks or any of those horses by the good French sires coming through to go around. Affinisea (Ire) is the one who's popular now. It's probably a great time for him because there's not enough of them running for anyone to say he's going bad. I'd only two by him and I got them sold easy. They just wanted Affinisea. I'll tell you what now, the Sea The Stars (Ire) element probably has a lot to do with it. He's a new influence on the National Hunt scene and people are getting a little bit excited about him. He's just an easier sell than any of the stallion sons of Galileo (Ire) over jumps. I was a fan of Nathaniel (Ire) but he seems to have gone back more on the Flat now and I couldn't get near anything by Blue Bresil (Fr) at the sales this season. I bought Arctic Bresil (GB) (Blue Bresil {Fr}) for €62,000 and sold him for £305,000 to Henry de Bromhead after he won his point. I know he wasn't cheap as a store but I can remember coming home from the Derby Sale and thinking that he wasn't dear either. I reckon that if Eddie O'Leary had been flat out buying for Gigginstown that year, he'd have been a one hundred grand store. I've done okay with Getaway (Ger). You'd have a filly by him all day long and, at the back of it all, the fillies probably get a better chance given the programme that's there for them. 

Doyle on . . . private sales

Private sales will become more popular. When they are talking on the telly about a horse costing this or that after winning his point-to-point, and say he only finishes fifth in a maiden hurdle, the real big owner doesn't want that. We're after getting three or four real good orders for between three and four hundred thousand if we can find the right horse. It's there in black in white so, when a race is about to start and the television presenters are stuck for something to say, you can't really blame them for mentioning what a horse costs. There's not a lot more to talk about at that stage. I reckon the private sales will get bigger and bigger.

Doyle on . . . producing 4-year-olds to win their point-to-point

We leave them in a routine as long as we can and it's probably only in the second or third week in January where we start pairing them up. But usually everything is just build them up, build them up, build them up and try not to think if they are good, bad or middling. If you start going looking for them earlier than you should, you won't get to run them. A lot of lads want to run them in February but the season goes on a long time so, if you start lighting them all up for February before they are ready, you might not get to run anything. At one time, you'd have been kicking yourself if you didn't have them out but you can always wait until October and you saw what some of the 4-year-olds who won their points in the autumn made at some of the sales recently. There's no hurry on us whatsoever. The only thing that might happen is that, say you had 35 4-year-olds and were left with 25 in the autumn, you probably wouldn't get to buy as many three-year-olds at the store sales that year. But that sort of thing levels itself out every three years. It just depends on the run that you're on. But before we'd run anything, they'd nearly want to go down over the fences with no wings on them. That's how ready they'd want to be. They need to know their job so well. They don't even have to go that fast, it's once they go straight. I don't believe in giving horses leads either. They have to go in front and do it themselves. If we came out to school a week before a race and they didn't go down over 12 fences straight as a die we'd leave them and wouldn't run them. 

Doyle on . . . the Wexford handlers

There's been lads before us and there'll be lads after us. Padge Berry was a great name in Wexford when we were growing up. Denis Murphy is another. He's a great man to watch when he's selling a horse. You don't have to ask him too many questions, just watch him, as he's a great way of explaining things. Colin Bowe is brilliant as well. For a man who has a massive yard, he runs a very simple operation and we tried to do what those lads have been doing. We don't try to complicate it.

The post Sean Doyle: ‘You’re Better Off Thinking Of The Rewards Rather Than The Risks’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Guy Mulcaster, who also bought the 84-rated Postwick (GB) (Postponed {Ire}) from Barton Sales for 130,000gns to join Waller, secured Coolmore's Irish Cesarewitch winner. 

Described by his trainer Aidan O'Brien at the beginning of the season as a lively each-way contender for the Derby, Waterville [lot 275] never made it to Epsom but went some way to justifying that high opinion by recording a last-gasp Irish Cesarewitch success at the Curragh last month. 

Camelot (GB), the sire of Waterville, has an excellent record in Australia and Mulcaster thinks this latest recruit by him has the right profile to be a success down under. 

He said, “We saw him in June when we were at Ballydoyle and his form has gone on since then. I spoke to Chris this morning and he was keen to get the horse, so fingers crossed he works out for us.”

Mulcaster added, “He is a well-bred horse, has been looked after and he has not had many runs. He has got a high profile and he looks obvious for us. We have not had many by Camelot ourselves, but he has done well in Australia.”

A large portion of that Camelot success was enjoyed by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with the ill-fated Sir Dragonet, another ex-O'Brien-trained colt, whose finest hour came when he stormed to G1 Cox Plate glory in 2020. Sir Dragonet also won the G1 Tancred S. at Rosehill last year and amassed almost £3 million in career earnings. 

Russian Camelot (Ire) is another to have flown the flag for Camelot in Australia having won the G1 Underwood S. at Caulfield for trainer Danny O'Brien.

Maher and Eustace secured another classy European-bred runner in wildcard entry Chairman (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), a 94-rated dual winner for Freddie and Martyn Meade, who was knocked down to Will Bourne, the bloodstock executive for the hugely successful training operation.

Bourne said, “He's a very athletic horse and didn't carry too much condition. What I observed, and Ciaron did as well, is the ones who have worked for him down there are the ones that aren't too heavy. You don't have to work them as much and we obviously have much different facilities in Australia than here. I think he's a horse who will suit Australia and has been racing in really good handicaps over here.”

He added, “Prize-money is so good in Australia, especially in those distance races. Looking forward to getting him in Ciaron and David's stable. Ciaron's alarm goes off at three in the morning so he's well across the purchase. He's happy.”

Maher went on to buy John Murphy's Charterhouse [323], who climbed from humble beginnings to win four races and reach a rating of 105 in his pomp, for 130,000gns.

Charterhouse (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}) was an 11,000gns foal but made just 3,000gns from Trickledown Stud to Stroud Coleman at Book 3 here in 2019. 

He changed hands privately after finishing just a head behind Juddmonte's Masen (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in second on debut at Leopardstown in 2020 and has won close to £100,000 for his owner Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez.

Tattersalls has been a happy hunting ground for the Australians in recent times, with Group 1 winners Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) and Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) poster boys of the Autumn sale, and representatives from the nation turned out in force on Monday.

Andrew Balding's unexposed Gleneagles (Ire) gelding Cadmus (Ire), a winner when last seen over 1m4f at Ascot on his third start, made 160,000gns to Badgers Bloodstock on behalf of trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.

“Hopefully he has got his best days ahead of him. He is a very unexposed horse. I loved the way he quickened when he won at Ascot last time out and the second is a decent horse. They pulled clear of the field,” said buyer Tom Pritchard-Gordon.

“We will see how he progresses. He has only had three runs, won last time, and is going to like firm ground. He gets a trip and has a massive advantage over Australian horses over that distance.”

Zaaki's trainer Annabel Neasham also got in on the act when Blandford Bloodstock and Bennett Racing signed for Joseph O'Brien's recent Dundalk maiden winner Fawkner Park (Ire) [65] for 120,000gns.

The Zoffany (Ire) gelding pulled over six lengths clear of Aidan O'Brien's Fleet Commander (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) [274] last Friday, form which is clearly held in decent regard, as that horse made 100,000gns to join De Burgh Equine and Darby Racing. 

A total of 8,566,100gns was spent on Monday, which represents an increase of 20% on last year's figure of 7,126,000, despite the fact that many buyers described the opening day of trade as the calm before the storm given that many exciting lots are due through the ring on Tuesday. 

The median stayed that same as in 2021 at 16,000gns while the average was up 21% from 27,095 to 32,820. The clearance rate was 88%, which was also the same in 2021. 

Dream Bound For Saudi

Be it on the track or off it, the big results keep on coming for Simon and Ed Crisford as, just a couple of days after sending out Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) to win the G3 Horris Hill S. at Newbury, the father-and-son duo netted a big result in the ring with Beautiful Aisling (GB) selling for 240,000gns. 

The 90-rated daughter of Havana Gold (Ire), who won two of her seven starts in the colours of Khalifa Aldoseri, was purchased by Najd Stud and will continue her career in Saudi Arabia. 

The filly's new connections revealed that they think the juvenile is up to listed class in due course and identified a sprint campaign in Saudi Arabia as the main objective. 

Saud Al Qahtani said, “She is a good filly, she was beaten by a good filly last time [Magical Sunset (Ire) (Kodiac {GB})], who has already gone on to win at listed level and I think this filly is a listed class, too. She might be one for the Sprint on Saudi Cup day.”

Beautiful Aisling has the chance to prove herself up to listed class as soon as Friday as she holds an entry in the Bosra Sham S. at Newmarket.

Simon Crisford said, “She is a beautiful filly, she has done us well throughout the summer, she is a very straightforward filly and will do very well in Saudi Arabia. I think they have bought her well, I have a lot of confidence in the filly.”

Aisling translates to dream in Irish and, in the case of Danny Donovan and Stephen Byrne of Knockgraffan Stables, who sourced the filly as a yearling and turned a hefty profit on her at the Goffs breeze-up sale earlier this year, Monday's result was the best possible outcome for business.

Beautiful Aisling was snapped up by the well-known breeze-up operators for £22,000 off Ladytown Stables at the September Yearling Sale before selling to Stroud Coleman for £120,000 in April. 

Donovan, who happened to be in attendance for Monday's sale, described himself as delighted to see how the filly has progressed for the Crisfords.

He said, “She was lucky for me at the breeze-ups this year and, while it's great to get a good result in the ring, it's just as important for business that they go on and prove themselves to be good racehorses and she's obviously smart.”

Najd Stud also went on to buy Tom Dascombe's 2-year-old filly Red N Blue Candy (Twirling Candy) for 140,000gns.

Nicholls Returns To Oliver For Rare Talent

Andy Oliver supplied Paul Nicholls and Tom Malone with a Champion Chase winner in the shape of Dodging Bullets (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the powerful trainer-agent combination returned to the County Tyrone handler for classy prospect Rare Middleton (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}). 

A winner of a 10-furlong Leopardstown maiden on his second start, Rare Middleton [120] was always going to command plenty of interest, and it was Malone who fought hardest to secure the 3-year-old for 215,000gns. 

Oliver has a proven track record in unearthing future top-class jumpers, with dual Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Long Dog another graduate, and Malone is hoping Rare Middleton can prove even half as good as the 2015 Champion Chase hero Dodging Bullets. 

Indeed, Rare Middleton could prove to be Classic-producing sire Aclaim's first jumps runner, but just whose colours the horse will run in remains to be seen. 

Malone said, “I absolutely loved him. His form has gotten stronger and stronger–the horse he beat at Leopardstown [Imaginarium (Ire) (Make Believe {GB})] won yesterday at the Curragh, the horse who beat him first time out at the Curragh went on and won the October Handicap [Zoffman (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire})] and Fawkner Park (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was behind him at Leopardstown, came out and made 120,000gns this morning. It is proper, proper form.”

He added, “I am delighted to get him. Aclaim hasn't got a hurdler yet, his first crop are only 3-year-olds, but this is lovely horse and Andy always buys this sort of horse.”

Rare Middleton was not the only jumping prospect that Oliver sold on Monday. The 74-rated maiden Regally Blonde (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}), who finished second in a 1m5f handicap at Down Royal on her most recent start, was sold to Kevin Ross on behalf of trainer Ben Case for 62,000gns.

Malone and Nicholls also struck for Beny Nahar Road (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), without doubt one of the biggest horses in the sale, for 72,000gns. 

Trained by Richard Hughes, Beny Nahar Road failed to win in five starts but placed in four of them and achieved a rating of 81. 

Recent Form Pays 

Two-year-olds don't come much tougher than Legend Of Xanadu (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), who doubled his tally at stakes level when beating Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) in typically gritty fashion on his 13th start at Doncaster on Saturday. 

That effort went some way in Mick Channon securing 140,000gns from Gassim Al Ghazali for the colt [279] who also won the Woodcote S. at Epsom earlier in the season. 

Legend Of Xanadu was one of the more expensive of the seven horses that the champion Qatari trainer picked up on Monday for a total spend of 516,000gns.

Al Ghazali also made it his business to add Freddie and Martyn Meade's 103-rated Method (Ire) (Method {Ire}), last seen finishing a good third in a listed even at Ascot at the beginning of the month, for 155,000gns.

Method [315] was bought by Dermot Farrington for just £20,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale in 2019 and he raced in the white and black silks of Manton Park Racing. Farrington also unearthed Meade's Chairman for 75,000gns at Book 2 at Tattersalls last year.

Meanwhile, another runner with recent form in the book, last weekend's Give Thanks S. third Direct Security (Ire), netted her connections 135,000 when selling to Nasser Bin Omairah.

Robin Brisland bought the daughter of Sioux Nation for just £2,500 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale last year with Monday's result netting a major return for the filly who also broke her maiden at Kempton last month. 

The Qatar-based Alban de Mieulle [Wathnan Racing] made a similar splash by spending 460,000gns on four highly-rated runners, headed by Hello Deira (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) for 180,000gns and Bolthole (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) for 130,000gns. 

Hello Deira [148], bought by Federico Barberini on behalf of Ahmad Al Shaikh at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale for just 35,000gns earlier in the year, won his second race for Owen Burrows, a nursery at Kempton off 82, this month. The 91-rated Bolthole [300] won twice for Michael Bell.

Speaking after purchasing Hello Deira, Olly Tate, who was in charge of the bidding process, said, “He goes to Qatar and to trainer Alban de Mieulle. He is a lovely horse and had good form as a 2-year-old. 

“He has the distance profile and is a good racehorse. It is competitive wherever you race and he will do well in Qatar. There is plenty of racing in him, he has a progressive profile and Owen has said he is a straightforward horse.”

Red And Rancho Strike

Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal made the trip to Newmarket worthwhile by securing Bellstreet Bridie (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) and Maltese Falcon (Ire) (Caravaggio), a filly [303] and a colt [49], to race in America. 

Bellstreet Bridie was trained by Michael Bell to win three of her 12 starts and reach a mark of 80 while Maltese Falcon carried Lady Ogden's colours to finish second on debut at Redcar for Rebecca Menzies. Bellstreet Bridie was sold for 260,000gns while Maltese Falcon made 105,000gns.

Speaking after buying Bellstreet Bridie, Rancho Temescal's Tim Cohen, who was sitting beside Alistair Donald, said, “I think she will go on a bit of ground in California. That division is getting a little light, so with a younger filly, she should do well for the year. We could give her a break after that and bring her back at four. That's the plan.”

He added, “We thought we'd have to go to that sort of money, but the exchange rate helps. I am going to pay tomorrow before the rate goes up!”

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