LAST Saturday's Cheltenham Sale recorded solid results throughout all levels of the market, with the median increasing by 33%, a 79% clearance rate and a record average price of £58,179 for a January Sale since its introduction in 2008.

Five lots achieved over £100,000, headed by Hawkhurst, the five-year-old son of Flemensfirth and an own-brother to Muirhead. He was always going to create plenty of interest after his impressive 12-length win at Boulta for trainer Denis Leahy. With the bidding opening at £50,000 there followed a solid duel between Bryan Drew, whose previous Cheltenham Sales acquisition, the smart bumper horse Moon Racer, is currently 12/1 for the Wetherbys Champion Bumper in March, and Kieran McManus, who had the final say when the gavel was knocked down at £200,000.