WHATEVER else he does in life, Co Kilkenny pharmacist James Cloney will never spend 14,000gns more wisely than he did at the Tattersalls July Sale in 2016. In search of a mare by Pivotal (Polar Falcon), he acquired, through BBA Ireland, a winner at three named Entreat who was being culled by her breeders, Cheveley Park Stud. She was then aged 10.

Entreat was in foal to Lethal Force (Dark Angel), who had just completed his third season at the Newmarket stud where his fee was £10,000. The decision to sell was quite a sensible one, given that when she was catalogued for the sale she had two runners, both of which were placed, and all four of her foals were by Dutch Art (Medicean). Just in time for the sale itself, Entreat’s first offspring, Suitor, who had been sold the previous year for 40,000gns, got his head in front in a 0-75 handicap at Newcastle. He would later go on to win over hurdles from Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra Stables.