The day two session of the August NH Sale produced the two-day sale’s top lot: an imposing son of the top British-based stallion Kayf Tara (Lot 387), who was sold for €75,000. He was signed for by this year’s Gold Cup-winning trainer Gordon Elliott.

Sold by Ballincurrig House Stud and already named Master Of Tara, he is the second foal out of Ryme Bere. She is a daughter of the listed winner Hornblower Girl and is a half-sister to the Group 3 Prix Eclipse scorer Top Shape, the Grade 3 chase winner Matinee Lover and the listed horses Red Divan and Trophy Wife.

“He was the stand out today, and is a real quality horse by a strong sire,” said Elliott.

A Doyen half-brother to the admirable 16-time winner, cross-country race hero and Grade 3 Grand National runner-up Balthazar King fetched €62,000. He was bought by Aiden Murphy (Lot 538) and sold by breeder Sunnyhill Stud.

There was interest in the bay gelding from all around the ring and under-bidders included Aidan O'Ryan, Jim Mullins and Eugene O'Sullivan.

Murphy said: “He’s been bought for Lesley and Russell Field and will come back to me initially to be broken in. He’s a nice horse and I'm really pleased to have got him as I bought Balthazar King as a three-year-old.”

Aidan “Mouse” O’Ryan, leading buyer at the sale by aggregate spent, did not miss out though. Later in the day the agent secured the Gaynestown Stud offered Westerner half-brother to the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle third Oscar Rock for €62,000. The gelding is from the further family of this spring’s Grade 1 runner-up Jessber’s Dream (Lot 617).

The Welsh-based trainer Peter Bowen, a frequent buyer at the August Sale, added to his collection going to €42,000 on behalf of owner John Andrews for a half-brother to the talented racemare and Grade 1 runner-up Petite Rose (Lot 396).

“He’s a proper chasing type and by a good stallion," said Peter Bowen after giving €42,000 for the son of Beat Hollow. Bowen added: “There’s not a lot wrong with the page! He has been bought for owner John Andrews, who has a few in the yard and we also bought for him on day one.”

The gelding's dam Sambre (by Turgeon) was placed at two and is daughter of a seven-time winner Stenoree, also the winner of a listed race at Vichy.

The sale concluded with aggregate sales of €3,021,800, 18% down on 2015 but from a 107-lot smaller catalogue. The sale median of €5,000 was a fall of 11% from 2015’s €5,600, while the average price of €8,325 was a drop of 10% from €9,201 in 2015. The clearance rare of 67% was comparable to last year’s slightly higher figure of 69%.

At the conclusion of the 2016 August NH Sale Managing Director Roger Casey commented: “While it was very pleasing to match the top priced lot from last year at €75,000, to see an increased number of stores breaking the €20,000 threshold (32) and to see a healthy clearance rate of 71% today, it was always going to be difficult to follow the fireworks generated at the record smashing Derby Sale witnessed here in June and we must acknowledge the more challenging marketplace experienced over the last two days.

"While the more selective nature of the market is evidenced by the reduced average and median over the last few days, the overall clearance rate achieved of 67% is comparable with 2015, and The George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper continues to be an incentive to purchasers coming to this sale and despite the more discerning marketplace more than 25% of the turnover was again generated by UK based purchasers which remains a consistent feature of recent renewals of this sale.

"Our gratitude as ever must go to our hard working and supportive vendors and in terms of National Hunt sales we now look forward to our market leading November National Sale, from 5 to 12 November, with a strong advance entry already and entries open up until 16 September 2016.”