THOSE consigning at this year’s store sales will have been pleased to see the first of the year, the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale, post improved figures, though trade may have been buoyed by the sale’s terrific season as much as a healthy market.

The very first lot into the ring, a Great Pretender gelding, set a positive note, bringing £52,000 from Rob James – a nice mark-up on his foal price of €19,000.