SALES catalogues have always held a fascination for me. As a young man growing up I always watched the post for the arrival of the latest catalogue, and then I spent many years researching pedigrees for Ballsbridge Sales, later Tattersalls Ireland.

This was in the days before computers could spill them out in seconds, and a good day at the office would be compiling perhaps eight or 10 pedigrees. How times have changed.