TWO absent top international riders bought a couple of horses apiece at the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale in the Amber Springs Hotel – and both took a chance on a lower-priced animal.

While Astier Nicolas didn’t travel over from France to Co Wexford, his mother Bénédicte did and, on his behalf gave €24,000 for the Thomas Quigley-consigned Ballyshan Contender (aka Cooley Nutcracker) who came up as Lot 6.