KATESBRIDGE breeder Paul McArdle didn’t receive much of a boost to his finances when he sold the 2006 Aboo Hom gelding Abarta but he was still delighted to see the Val O’Brien-trained bay win over fences at Sligo last Wednesday week.

Abarta, whose only previous success came in a Ballinrobe handicap hurdle just over three years ago, is out of the unraced Erins Isle mare Wexford Glen and Paul reports that he is now breeding out of the Sligo winner’s four-year-old full-sister who is in foal to Mountain High.

The breeder has two other mares at his Hollow Farm Stud, Boyne Lass and Kitty Girl. The former, a 2002 daughter of Medaille Militaire who was placed in a point-to-point, is a half-sister to Tofino Bay (by Bishop Of Cashel), the winner of a Maralin maiden, a bumper, two hurdles and three races over fences including the Woodlands Park Novice Chase (Grade 2) at Naas.

FLAT WINNER

The 15-year-old Mukaddamah mare Kitty Girl, who won twice on the flat in Italy, is a half-sister to four winners including the listed-placed Leleyf (by Kheleyf).

Both mares have foals at foot by Arctic Tack’s Polish Precedent stallion Le Fou and these are being consigned to the National Hunt sale at Tattersalls Ireland next month.

Paul’s son Raymond is very much involved with the foals but, later in November, he is selling under his own name at the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale in Wexford.

His former hunter The Irish Ambassador, who is coming up as Lot 1, is a seven-year-old grey gelding by Cruisings Ambassador out of a mare by the Irish Sport Horse stallion Puissance.

Since turning his attention to eventing, The Irish Ambassador has been impressive, finishing in the top six in his last five outings under Steven Smith.

There are many northern-consigned lots in the catalogue which can be viewed on line with videos of all horses being shown in hand and ridden at Barnadown.