MAT Nicholls and Kim Bailey are debating whether to target a valuable race or aim for Grade 1 glory after securing Mags Mullins’ promising hurdler Hillberry Hill for £70,000 in Wednesday’s ThoroughBid January Sale.

The Kingston Hill five-year-old made a successful step up to two and a half miles when winning his second start in a maiden hurdle at Thurles earlier this month, with Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle fourth Forty Coats back in third.

He was offered with entries to the Grade 1 novice hurdles at Cheltenham, but also qualifies for the €75,000 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final, leaving his new connections with an envious decision to make.

On his Cheltenham entries, Mat Nicholls said: “It’s something lofty to aim at, but we’ll get him home first before we make any decisions on where he’ll be targeted. Having qualified for the Red Mills Final at Punchestown, that could be a nice pot to look at with him this season, but we’ll know more once we get him home and settled in.”

Nicholls continued: “The man he’s been bought for, John Perris, actually spotted him in the sale as he has a very good Kingston Hill mare called White Noise, who’s won three on the bounce, so he’s a fan of the stallion.

“We liked the look of him when we saw him in the catalogue and he’s just the type of horse we like to buy. He’s 16.3hh, he’ll jump a fence and get a trip in time. We thought he was very eye-catching.”

Broken Vow has a longer journey ahead after Darren O’Dwyer purchased Olly Murphy’s four-year-old on behalf of US owner Bonnie Hamilton, whose Silverton Hill Partnership owns Group 1 winner Hotazhell with Jessica Harrington.

Leslie Young will train their £50,000 purchase, O’Dwyer explained, adding: “She came highly recommended by Olly Murphy, and she did it really well in her bumper at Lingfield. She’s young and progressing and we think she’s the type who ought to suit American racing well.”

It marked a fine bit of business for Olly Murphy, with Broken Vow having been purchased for 7,000gns last July following the passing of her breeder, the great Kevin Prendergast. Then unraced, the daughter of Decorated Knight made a winning debut in a Lingfield bumper earlier this month.