IT’S a widely-held view that four-year-old winners by the most in-vogue stallions fetch the biggest prices, but Friday’s Ferbuary Sale at Tattersalls Cheltenham proved that performance outweighs both factors, as Gordon Elliott gave £310,000 for Terence O’Brien’s impressive newcomer Uncle Pad.

The five-year-old son of Vadamos provided O’Brien with his greatest result in the ring, and it’s not the first time he’s seen the handler commit a career first, O’Brien revealed. “He did an exceptional piece of work a couple of weeks before his point-to-point, and I recommended him then; I have never recommended one before he has even run!” he said.

High expectations saw Uncle Pad sent off even-money favourite for a five-year-old geldings’ maiden on February 1st. The bay obliged in fine style, boasting a five-length advantage by the second last and went on to lead by 10 lengths at the line.

“I think this horse is exceptionally good, I have never had a horse at this stage do what he can do, it was just a relief when he won,” O’Brien said on Friday.

“There’s a few lads involved in this horse, and my 14-year-old son Billy had 5% for a month’s work in the yard, and then wangled another 1% from another week’s work – it is a good start for him with his first horse!”

High praise

O’Brien’s evaluation influenced Elliott, he explained: “Terence does not put many forward, so you take note when he does, and especially when he gives us one before he has run. He is a big horse and will be one for next year.”

Eddie O’Leary provided the final bid on Friday, but there are other reasons to suggest that Uncle Pad will carry Gigginstown’s maroon silks in the future - their Grade 3-winning hurdler What’s Up Darling is out of a half-sister to Uncle Pad. In December, Elliott gave £185,000 on Gigginstown’s behalf for Denis Murphy’s four-year-old winner Thinkitdontjinxit, also by Uncle Pad’s sire Vadamos.

The smart prospects hail from Vadamos’ final crop at Tally-Ho Stud, which also includes last month’s Grade 3 winner Matata and Scottish County Hurdle victor Star Of Guiting. Vadamos’ first four-year-olds conceived at Grange Stud sold for up to €88,000 at the 2025 store sales.

Rather poignantly, Uncle Pad is another example of the talent-spotting abilities of the late Hugh Mulryan, who also bought Denis Hogan’s progressive mare Cousin Kate. The Galway native bought Uncle Pad with Adam Potts as a foal for €26,000.

The half-brother to blacktype hurdler Hello Sweetie failed to make a profit at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, where O’Brien picked him up for €20,000.

Some consolation

Jerry McGrath was among those to make a play for Uncle Pad, alongside the likes of Dave Phelan, A.J. O’Neill and Tom Malone, but McGrath gained compensation with two purchases totalling £440,000.

At £240,000, the priciest of the pair was Gary Murphy’s impressive four-year-old winner Catchem Black, for whom McGrath signed alongside Ben Pauling. After seeing off Mags O’Toole, Pauling said: “Jerry was at the point-to-point when he won, he rang me as they came to the last and told me we have got to try and get hold of this fella.

“He was not all out to win and quickened up well from the second last. He is not huge and is one we can think about for a bumper in April.”

The bay emerged as an exciting prospect at Comea earlier this month, making all before kicking clear from two out and went on to win by all of 16 lengths. Bought by Murphy as a foal with Francis Whelan for €15,000, he continues Murphy’s tremendous success with Affinisea, the handler having also kickstarted the careers of Grade 1 winner Affordale Fury and Arkle runner-up Only By Night.

McGrath’s earlier purchase for £200,000, Sean Doyle’s four-year-old maiden winner Well Achieved, will also join Ben Pauling. The Milan gelding was bought on behalf of Tony Hine, owner of Mondoui’boy, who is unbeaten over hurdles this season.

Something different

On his latest purchase, Hine commented: “He really stood out to us, and he is a big horse, but he is light on his feet. It is something a bit different to add to our string.”

Well Achieved produced a fine round of jumping and demonstrated a likeable attitude when prevailing by a neck in Sunday’s four-year-old maiden at Knockanard. Out of a half-sister to Empire Of Dirt, Well Achieved has proven a bargain buy as a three-year-old, when Monbeg Stable paid €16,000 at Part 2 of the Goffs Arkle Sale.

In this week’s Big Interview, trainer Colm Murphy shares his view that horses placed in point-to-points offer value for money, and Willie Mullins must agree, as he and Harold Kirk gave £105,000 for Persian Palace, who finished third on debut behind Well Achieved.

Beaten a neck and two lengths in total, it was a particularly important result for handler Paul Cashman, as Persian Palace was a first runner by Glenview Stud sire Old Persian. Bought by Gerry Hogan as a foal for €47,000, he hails from the family of Cooldine, Blow By Blow and The Wallpark.

Loughmourne’s pedigree may not boast such notable names, but it matters little following his three-length defeat of a more experienced rival at Nenagh last weekend.

A five-year-old son of Maxios, Stuart Crawford’s €30,000 purchase drew clear on the run-in to win the five-year-old geldings’ maiden by three lengths.

Nan’s Choice continued a week to remember for young trainer Conor Houlihan when bringing £115,000 from Ryan Mahon and Dan Skelton. The five-year-old daughter of Getaway got Houlihan off the mark as a trainer when landing Saturday’s mares’ bumper at Gowran Park, drawing five lengths clear of Closutton’s short-priced favourite.

Five days later, Houlihan’s very next runner Kiltybo made all to win a similar event at Thurles in the colours of breeder Anthony Murphy, who also owned Nan’s Choice and sourced her for just €8,000.