TRADE on day one of the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale was markedly up on the same day's business from last year.

Thanks in part to a smaller catalogue this time around, the clearance rate on Monday was 67% (up from 60%) and the median price rose from €8,500 to €11,000.

Monday's top price of €88,000 arrived right at the end of the session when Victor Connolly's Burgage Stud sold a colt foal from the final crop of the late Jukebox Jury to Timmy Hillman. It is the highest ever paid on the opening session of the foal sale.

The colt is from a famous Burgage Stud family, that of Grade 1 winners Briar Hill and Boston Bob.

A "hugely relieved" Connolly said: "We knew he was a nice horse. He was very popular, but until it happens, you just don't know. From day one, he was a very straightforward horse, very willing with a great temperament, and there's every hope that the pedigree will improve further.

"We have the mare, and she has a four-year-old full-brother with Donnacha Doyle who I spoke to this morning, and he's happy with the horse. When he says he's happy, that's perfectly good for me! "There's potential for good things to happen, but it's a pedigree that's done us very well. It's been around for decades. We've had great days, and now it's great to see this mare doing the same thing."

He added: "Jukebox was leading stallion at Cheltenham this March, and that wasn't from covering huge numbers of mares, so it's a reflection on him as well."

Timmy Hillman added: "I have bought him for myself and Tally-Ho Stud. He is a most lovely individual, the sire will have a rarity value when he comes back for resale. There are few better pedigrees and I just hope he will be lucky. He was the best on offer today."

The sale continues on Tuesday, when some of the better foals are on offer.

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