THE sales season in Ireland got off to a perfectly satisfactory start earlier this week when the Tattersalls Ireland February National Hunt Sale returned a set of figures that were able to keep pace with the record-breaking results from 12 months ago.

In 2019, this sale produced a top price of €80,000 and 14 transactions of €30,000 or more. This time around the top price came back to €60,000, while there were 12 horses who fetched at least €30,000, but this didn’t impact on the final returns for the one-day sale with the aggregate of just over €1.9 million essentially on a par with 2019.

Michael Hickey and David Magnier in Tattersalls \ Healy Racing.

The average of €11,482 dropped by one point but was still the second highest in the sale’s history, while the median of €9,250 was a new February Sale record as it eclipsed the previous high of €7,500 by some 22%.

The clearance rate of 58% was of a more low-key figure but it too bettered the corresponding figure from 2019, in this case by 2%.

Overall this represented a satisfactory and solid start to the sales year in Ireland and the demand for the better lots was in keeping with the trade witnessed in this sphere prior to Christmas.

The clearance rate points to a trade that was selective, but that tends to be the case at sales such as this and the overall figures for the latest renewal of this sale stand up to scrutiny against any others from the last 20 years

“Following on from last year’s record breaking one-day February National Hunt Sale, today’s sale saw strong trade for choice lots, and it was particularly pleasing for the sale to produce the highest median on record,” said Tattersalls Ireland CEO Matt Mitchell at the conclusion of the auction on Tuesday night after 11 and a half hours of selling.

“We look forward to sponsoring the €150,000 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival this coming weekend. This sponsorship is part of the Tattersalls overall commitment to Irish racing with an annual sponsorship of races worth €1,750,000. Tattersalls is also the leading sponsor of point-to-points in Ireland,” he added.

“We now focus on our upcoming store sales where applications for the May Store Sale and the Derby Sale close this Friday together with the one-day select August National Hunt Sale where nominations close in February.”

THE star of the show at this year’s sale was a €60,000 son of the highly promising French-based sire No Risk At All whose talents have been amply advertised in recent weeks through the exploits of Epatante and Allaho.

The only yearling in the sale by the My Risk horse was offered by Harry and Lorna Fowler’s Rahinstown Stud and he is a half-brother to the Grade 1 third Amore Alato and the Grade 2-placed runner Solomon Grey.

Ryan Mahon outlasted Ian Ferguson and Hamish Macauley for the colt and reported that he had bought him on behalf of Colm Donlon who will retain his purchase to race. Donlon numbers Paul Nicholls amongst his trainers.

TOWARDS the outset of the marathon 11-and-a-half-hour session, Aiden Murphy saw off all challengers for a €55,000 Mount Nelson half-brother to Gordon Elliott’s dual Grade 1-winner and leading RSA Chase hope Battleoverdoyen.

This colt was consigned by his breeder Caroline Berry and he was bought with a view to being reoffered as a three-year-old.

Murphy’s four purchases on the day also included a €35,000 Walk In The Park colt whom Ballincurrig House Stud offered on behalf of Kieran Mariga.

This colt is out of the listed-placed Lonesome Dove and that mare can number the Irish Grand National victor Thunder And Roses and the Kerry National hero Wrath Of Titans amongst her siblings.

JIM Mernagh and John Donaghy combined to secure the only Network yearling in the sale with a bid of €42,000.

This Network colt out of Holly Girl from Thistletown Stud sold to Jim Mernagh for €42,000 \ Healy Racing.

This Thistletown Stud offering will appeal on several fronts when he returns to the sales ring. He shares his sire with a number of top-class jumpers, the most current of which is Delta Work, and he is among a group of just six individuals who form Network’s final crop.

Another French-based sire to make an impact was Buck’s Boum, who enjoyed such a memorable Cheltenham last year courtesy of Al Boum Photo and Duc Des Genievres, when he supplied a €36,000 colt from Galbertstown Stud.

Margaret O’Toole signed for the half-brother to four winners and she was acting on behalf of Chris Jones’ Killeen Glebe. This horse will be reoffered as a three-year-old.

THE sale contained just three lots by the elite veteran sire Flemensfirth and the trio averaged a highly impressive €29,167 with the most expensive being a €40,000 colt from The Beeches Stud. Ian Ferguson, who has acquired many high class jumpers in their formative years, signed for this relation to the talented Noel Meade pair Coq Hardi Affair and Parsons Pistol.

Another to come in at this price was Foxleigh House’s Champs Elysees half-brother to The New One who numbered two top-flight successes among his 20 career victories. Hamish Macauley signed for this colt not long after he missed out on the top lot.

Lot 112 by Flemensfirth out of Florafern from The Beeches Stud sold to Ian Ferguson for €40,000 \ Healy Racing.

THE day contained several sought-after yearlings by Soldier Of Fortune and one of these was a colt from Ballincurrig House Stud who cost Ormond Bloodstock €32,000.

Meanwhile, English-based pinhooker George Haine is eyeing a return to the sales ring for a €31,000 son of the runaway Irish Derby winner whose dam is a four-time winning daughter of King’s Theatre.

Walter Connor’s Sluggara Farm also secured a son of Soldier Of Fortune which came in the form of a €30,000 colt out of the very useful dual bumper winner Now Let Go.

MARTALINE may have passed on but his influence is sure to be felt for some time to come and his Zamindar half-brother Pillar Coral made his presence felt with a member of his first crop when George Mullins forked out €30,000 for a colt from Ballinaroone Stud.

This price was matched by Elm Equine Limited for son of Flemensfirth out of a Presenting own-sister to the useful Horatio Hornblower.