IT was desperately sad to see the Gordon Elliott-trained Mega Fortune take a fatal fall two out when in command of the conditions hurdle at Limerick last Sunday.

The French-bred four-year-old, winner of the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown in February, had been purchased as a yearling by Co Tyrone trainer Andy Oliver for whom he won a 10-furlong Sligo maiden in May 2016. Shortly afterwards, the bay gelding was purchased privately for Chris Jones by the Co Antrim-based Kevin Ross Bloodstock.

Mega Fortune’s death on Sunday came after a good week for Kevin and Anna Ross who had earlier seen sales purchases Betancourt and Sissinghurst visit the winner’s enclosure. Slightly later on Sunday, the Ben Case-trained Oski proved another successful buy when making all to win the conditional jockeys’ maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter.

Among the many recent winners purchased by Harold Kirk for Willie Mullins was the French-bred Bamako Moriviere.

A six-year-old gelding by the Boardsmill Stud-based Califet, the bay was a 2/1 shot when landing the two-mile beginners chase at Fairyhouse last Saturday by two and a half lengths from the 11/10 favourite Tombstone. Seven lengths back in third was the Clare Cannon-trained homebred Mount Beckham, who was a 50/1 chance on his third start over fences.

£1m purchase

The busy northern-born agent Kerri Radcliffe signed for one of the one million guinea purchases at Tattersalls Newmarket when giving Deerpark Stud that amount for its Sea The Stars colt out of the winning Shamardal mare Elegant Shadow.