IRISH pointers and bumper winners were selling like hot cakes at Friday's Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham December National Hunt Sale.

The top price of £400,000 was paid by agent Tom Malone for Trevelyn's Corn, a winner for Colin Bowe last Sunday at Borris House. The son of Oscar was a €45,000 buy at the Derby Sale. Paul Nicholls will train the horse.

A whopping £350,000 paid for recent Fairyhouse bumper winner Downtown Getaway.

Trained by Mag Mullins, the Getaway gelding was purchased by Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock whose daring opening bid was unchallenged. Nicky Henderson will train this one.

Earlier Jonjo O’Neill paid £300,000 for Colin Bowe’s recent Mainstown winner Straight Red.

The son of Westerner was bought at the Goffs Land Rover Sale for €50,000 and raced at Mainstown in the colours of Jim O’Neill, whose brother Barry rode the horse to win.

Agent Mags O’Toole and Gordon Elliott paid £225,000 for Kirkistown winner Sometime Soon. A son of Shantou, Sometime Soon was described by trainer David Christie as “the best I’ve trained” after that debut success.

Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins struck for El Merano, a three-year-old Saddex gelding who was placed twice in France. Offered by Alain Couetil, the relation to So Young was sold for £120,000.

Recent Limerick maiden hurdle winner Chris’s Dream was sold by trainer Eugene O’Sullivan for £175,000 to agent Tom Malone. The Mahler five-year-old also won a Boulta point-to-point a year ago.

Last Sunday’s Boulta winner Press Conference (by Getaway) was sold by trainer John Murphy to Kate Harrington for £160,000.

Tom Malone also acquired Colin Bowe’s Knockinroe winner Blackjack Kentucky for £100,000. The Oscar gelding is a half-brother to Thyne For Gold. Denis Murphy’s Moira winner Beyondthestorm was snapped by by Anthony Bromley for £150,000, again to join the Nicky Henderson yard. The Flemensfirth gelding cost €24,000 at the Land Rover Sale.

Bromley’s Highflyer colleague Tessa Greatrex paid £105,000 for Paul Cashman’s Ballindenisk runner-up Coole Hill.

Harry Fry is set to train Captain Drake, a Getaway gelding who was placed second behind Darsi In The Park on his debut run for Denis Murphy at Lingstown last month. The runner-up's price was £115,000 and the winner of that race had earlier sold for just £67,000 to Jonjo O'Neill.

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