ED DONOHOE was understandably pleased when the hammer fell on the last lot at Thursday’s inaugural Goresbridge sale of point-to-point and National Hunt horses.

A clearance rate of 82% from the 39 lots on offer, a large presence of British buyers thanks to a targeted campaign by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, and many satisfied vendors combined to give the company boss every reason to be happy with his decision to reintroduce a sale of thoroughbreds at the Co Kilkenny venue.

Not having to incur the costs of travelling across the water to sell at the many sales available for point-to-pointers was cited as one of the reasons most of the leading handlers in Ireland had for wanting an outlet nearer to home.

While the catalogue was populated by many types who needed just such a sale, where the median was a respectable €19,000, there were plenty of better quality lots that sold well.

Emmet Mullins did not have to travel far to attend, but he went home with the star of the day, Michael Goff’s Justatan.

A French-bred son of the little-known Estejo, the five-year-old won a maiden point-to-point on his debut at Tinahely last October, and reappeared on Easter Sunday to land a winners’ race at Monksgrange.

His new trainer, signing as Friars Lodge Stables, indicated the likelihood is that the gelding will race throughout the summer months. Justatan failed to sell last year after winning his maiden at £48,000.

British buyers

Tom Malone was enthusiastic about the sale and its future, and he left with three purchases and a spend in excess of €100,000. The most expensive of his acquisitions was Epic West, an offering from Donnchadh Doyle’s Monbeg Stables.

The Mount Nelson five-year-old was runner-up on his debut at Lisronagh in February before winning the following month at Belclare. Three years ago Malone paid £115,000 for Epic West’s half-brother, the ill-fated Complete Unknown, subsequently a Grade 3-winning hurdler and Grade 1-placed chaser behind Gerri Colombe last year.

The second lot sold on the day proved to be one of the highlights, Bobby O’Ryan paying €54,000 on behalf of trainer James Ewart for Small Town Kid, a five-year-old son of Getaway.

Winner at the second time of asking, at Ballyragget last month, this Goffs Land Rover graduate was sold by the Monbeg Syndicate and is out of a half-sister to a graduate of that academy, Welsh Grand National winner Monbeg Dude.

Richie Downes was listed as the purchaser of Shabby Hill for €50,000, offered for sale from Tom Dreaper’s Greenogue Racing.

He was acting for Charles Byrnes when securing this five-year-old Kalanisi gelding who won on his only start at Lingstown in March. This was a profitable transaction as the gelding cost €17,000 two years ago at the Tattersalls Ireland July Sale.

Ballyduane Stud’s Gerry Mullins was buying for trainer Seamus Neville when spending €46,000 on Duce Bigalow. Pulled up on his debut back in November, the five-year-old son of Pour Moi progressed to run second at Knockanohill last month for Harley Dunne Racing.