TULLAHERIN played host to the busiest fixture of the season thus far, when 90 runners took to the track across eight races at the Kilkenny venue last Sunday. That could be repeated this weekend, with a total of 825 entries having been made across the four fixtures, ensuring a bumper two days of racing are likely in store.

Tomorrow’s fixture in Lisronagh leads the way, having attracted 238 entries, whilst the Meath and Tara fixture in Fairyhouse is not far behind with 224 entries, and they are the two largest entries for the season.

That will bode well for the Goffs Punchestown Sale, the last of the so-called boutique festival sales attached to one of the major spring racing festivals. It takes place in the winner’s enclosure at the Kildare course after racing next Thursday evening.

These boutique festival sales have thrived this spring, producing record returns. The Tattersalls sale at the Cheltenham Festival set the tone for what was to come in that regard.

Rewinding back to last month, heavy rain failed to dampen the spending power of the top yards in the Prestbury Park winner’s enclosure when the sale produced a plethora of records.

From the top price of £530,000 for the Lingstown winner Monster Truck, to the turnover, average and the four pointers who realised prices of £400,000 and above, records were broken.

Four weeks later, there was a record turnover, average and median at the Goffs Aintree sale, as no fewer than eight horses sold for £200,000 or more, including Sean Doyle’s £320,000 top lot Wordfromhome.

Public auction or private sale?

Away from the festival sales, there have also been record prices at Cheltenham’s November, January, and April sales, the latest of which saw the Monksgrange winner Mifa d’Airy change hands for £435,000. All of this has contributed to the sale of point-to-pointers at public auction this season, surpassing the £19 million mark, with the 27 horses alone that have realised figures of £200,000 and above, accounting for close to £7.5 million of that figure.

Recent seasons have seen a trend towards private sales, particularly at the upper end of the market.

However, this season’s returns from public auctions are the highest since £22 million was spent by this corresponding point in 2023, pointing towards a positive upturn in the sales ring’s fortunes.

The balance between the two remains a point of contention with some, largely British-based trainers, who have previously lamented the advantage that Irish trainers had to source point-to-pointers directly before they reached a sale.

Interestingly, of the 100 blacktype races this season that have been won by a former Irish point-to-point horse, 51 had been offered at public auction after running in a point-to-point, versus 49 that were not. The rebound in the sales ring this season would suggest that the gap between those two figures could be set to widen in the years to come.

It will be interesting to see when the results of Thursday’s sale at Goresbridge are then added to the turnover from the upcoming sales at Punchestown, Doncaster and Fairyhouse in the coming weeks, just where that total public spend for the season will finish in comparison to what it was in previous years.

ALONGSIDE what should be a busy afternoon of racing at Lisronagh tomorrow afternoon, several interesting experiences and items will be up for grabs at the Tipperary course, with auctions taking place in between races.

Among the highlights, there is a morning on the gallops at champion trainer Willie Mullins’ Closutton stables up for grabs for four people, which is sure to catch the attention of many. For those looking for a quick return, there is the opportunity to enjoy a course walk for four just two days later on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival in the company of the former two-time Grand National winning jockey Leighton Aspell.

For those interested in a more leisurely activity, there is the option of dinner for two at Sadlers Restaurant in Fethard, whilst there is also a day’s hunting for two with the Heythrop Hunt set to go under the hammer. Meanwhile, for handlers, there are schooling tickets for Ballyedmond, Mid-Tipp Schooling, Monksgrange, and Dromahane Schooling Bumpers up for grabs. A full list of the 20 lots up for auction can be found in the racecard tomorrow.

Point-to-point ratings

THERE was no shortage of action within the four-year-old maiden division last weekend, with eight races staged across the three venues.

Having sent out the recent bumper winner, Rec Acres Max, to win a four-year-old maiden at Dromahane in the autumn, Mick Goff returned to the winner’s enclosure at the Mallow venue when he saddled his second four-year-old winner at Dromahane of this season, courtesy of Hurricane Mick (92+).

Despite five of the six horses who finished behind him having previous experience, the newcomer overcame that inexperience, which was evident in two guessy leaps early in the straight by looking value for the two-length winning margin at the line.

This was a performance which also stacked up well on the clock.

Division two of that contest saw The Big Berk (90+) have too many gears for his six rivals in a more steadily-run maiden, and he looked the likely winner from a long way out.

In the mares’ contest, Music Maker (80+) outbattled a more experienced and previously placed rival by a narrow margin as the pair pulled well clear to suggest they are both track winners in waiting.

At Tullaherin, Sean Doyle added Spinning A Dream (82+) to his growing list of impressive maiden winners this season when she made a winning introduction.

Last to come off the bridle, she got a dream run up the inside of her rivals at the home bend, and lengthened clear on the run-in to finish seemingly full of running.

The opening division saw Alabama Way (78+) have to dig deeper, but she showed a great get the better of the runner-up in a protracted battle across the final two fences.

There were big fields in both divisions of the geldings’ maiden with 28 runners across the two races.

Garden Master (92+) impressed with his jumping, which proved to be a real asset.

It saw him gain lengths on his rivals at several obstacles, especially on the final circuit. It enabled him to cut through the field en route to a snug success.

Despite two rivals slipping the field early on the final circuit of the second division of the geldings’ maiden, Mikel Ange Spigao (91+) was able to reel them in quite comfortably and was always holding the runner-up on the run to the line.