WHEN Mifa d’Airy bolted up on debut at Dromahane, bloodstock agents, trainers and big-spending owners paid attention – specifically Dan Skelton, Ryan Mahon, Matt Coleman, Gordon Elliott, Mags O’Toole and Harold Kirk when Sean Doyle’s mare went under the hammer at Thursday’s Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale.

It was the new British champion National Hunt trainer and agent Mahon who won out, relegating Kirk to the role of underbidder, mirroring Skelton taking the title from Mullins. At £450,000, Skelton’s recruit is the highest-priced mare to be sold at Tattersalls Cheltenham, and also holds the title of the highest-rated four-year-old mare in Irish points so far this season.