AS expected the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale ended last weekend with a set of final results which were unable to match the gains that were recorded 12 months previously.

Following four years of sustained growth, the six-day auction witnessed its first declines since 2010 as the aggregate dipped by 6% to just over €12.7m. The €13,803 average dropped by just one point while the median went from €11,000 to €10,500. Furthermore the clearance rate for the week fell by five points to 70%.

Overall this was a reasonably solid renewal of the sale and the all important four-day foal section witnessed good trade at the head of the market.

However, trade was definitely more selective this year which is a notable point of concern for the future as numbers look set to rise again next year and supply is starting to outrun demand once again.

“There have been many highlights over the last week; a robust clearance rate of 74% for foals, 68 foals achieving €30,000 or more, the highest aggregate and median on record for a one day foal sale during Wednesday’s electric session and the €110,000 highest price achieved for a foal since 2010,” commented Tattersalls Ireland managing director Roger Casey at the conclusion of the sale.

“The third staging of the National Hunt Yearling Show in association with the ITBA was again a success and set the tone for a positive week and while the yearling section itself proved to be more selective than 2014, it still produced the highest median for this category since 2007.

“Demand for older horses was also the strongest it has been in recent years and a definite highlight was the contribution of the Landscape Stud Dispersal which generated an average of €30,700 for their older horses.

“The significantly improved broodmare section also produced its strongest set of returns in many years with the highest clearance rate achieved for this category since 2006.

“The top price of €145,000 Adriana Des Mottes will generate the headlines but a general increase in quality was evident as illustrated by the stand out Patrick Burling Dispersal.

“The results in the ring this week certainly demonstrate a consolidation of sorts of the record breaking renewal of this sale in 2014 and are indicative of the overall changing demand/supply dynamic being felt across the bloodstock industry,” he concluded.

As ever the last day of the sale was given over to older stores and mares and it was heartening to see the turnover for the broodmare section break through the €1m for the first time in seven years. Furthermore the traditionally low key older horse section was lit up by a quality dispersal from Landscape Stud.

Once again the mares section provided the top price of the week when the former Willie Mullins-trained Grade 1 winner Adriana Des Mottes fetched €145,000. The daughter of Network was sold in foal to Shantou and she came to Kilmoney Cottage Stud’s Michael Carty after he saw off the challenge of Tom Malone. Carty, who bought the sale topping Tarla for €170,000 last year, reported that he was acting for an English client.

Peter Molony picked up two of the most attractive mares on offer and the most expensive of these, at €54,000, was Tempest River. She won the mares’ bumper at Aintree and was sold in foal to Califet.

Molony also paid €48,000 for Taraval who is a Grade 3-placed half-sister to the dual Aintree Hurdle winner Oscar Whisky.

The aforementioned Patrick Burling dispersal from Goldford Stud supplied a number of the highest prices in the mares section and centre stage here went to Dare To Doubt who was knocked down to Gerry Mullins for €54,000.

The former Grade 2 winner was bought for €52,000 at this sale in 2012 and her yearling and foal fillies by Flemensfirth made €38,000 and €22,000 during the week.

Goldford also offered the Lando mare Temptation, already the dam of the useful Princely Player, and she cost Ronnie O’Neill €47,000. The same purchaser also went to €45,000 for the listed-winning Kahyasi mare Karello Bay.

In the older stores section a superb two-year-old son of Shantou from Landscape Stud held sway after he was knocked down to Martin Cullinane for €60,000. A return to the Derby Sale is on the cards for the relation to the high class flat stayer Finalmente.

Landscape also offered an Oscar two-year-old out of a half-sister to the Munster National winner Treacle. He cost Joseph O’Brien €42,000 while Niall Bleahen went to €33,000 for a Gold Well gelding who will return for sale next year.