IT’S been a week that announced the coming of autumn and Champions Weekend and the flat stars await next weekend. It’s also just three weeks to the first of the point-to-points.

Following the pattern of recent seasons, many handlers will be holding hopes that the three-year-old currently going through his preparation will go on to reap rewards in the sales ring. Thoughts went in that direction mid-week when the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Champagne Present went off favourite for the fourth time in a row in a Southwell hurdle and again proved disappointing.

Champagne Present began his career by finishing fourth in a Dromahane maiden in March of 2014. He changed hands for £210,000 at Brightwells a month later. To date he has won £8,723. Looking back, the winner at Dromahane that day was Adam Du Breteau who also joined O’Neill for £280,000 at the same sale and has paid back just £563. Even the third placed Ink Master was a more conservative €80,000 at the Punchestown Sale but to date has won back just £572.

A total of over €600,000 on the hoof in one Dromahane maiden which must rank as one of the most expensive point-to-points ever run and a warning let buyer beware. The total return to date is £9,858 for that investment. There’s Faugheen on one end and many many who fail to hit the mark at the other. Good luck to all, but caveat emptor.