JUST three of the 56 horses offered for sale at Thursday's Tattersalls Cheltenham May Sale were unsold.

The 95% clearance rate was the most impressive statistic from a session dominated by Irish point-to-pointers. Five horses sold for six-figure sums, headed by Call Her Now, a daughter of Presenting and closely related to Denman, who recently won her point-to-point for trainer Cormac Doyle.

Gordon Elliott was the underbidder but signing for the purchase at £240,000 was Andrew Hickman on behalf of Lorna and Harry Fowler's Rahinston Stud. Training plans for the winner are unknown.

City Chief, offered by Denis Murphy's Ballyboy Stables caught the imagination of a number of different bidders but it was David Minton of Highflyer Bloodstock standing alongside Nicky Henderson who struck the winning bid of £210,000.

The four-year-old son of Soldier Of Fortune was an impressive winner of his maiden point-to-point at Tralee only last Sunday.

Timeforatune was the 11-length debut winner of his bumper at Ffos Las for Brian Eckley, who also owned and bred the son of Yorgunnabelucky. The gelding had many admirers with a number of bidders making a play for the horse in the ring but it was David Minton of Highflyer Bloodstock who again brought down the hammer at £175,000.

Pimlico Point ran out the debut winner of his four-year-old Maiden point-to-point at Ballindenisk in taking style and it was Kerry Lee who signed the docket at £160,000 for the son of Flemensfirth. He boasts a strong pedigree being out of a Grade 1 winning mare and from the family of Module.

The sale concluded with a turnover of £2,923,000 at an average of £55,151. The median price recorded was £45,000.

Matthew Prior, head of sales for Tattersalls Cheltenham, commented: "The Cheltenham May Sale brings to a close what has been a challenging season for the point-to-point sector on a high note.

"The handlers have continued to show great resilience in adapting to a disrupted racing and sales calendar as a result of the pandemic and it has been hugely satisfying to see their efforts rewarded at our recent sales held here in Park Paddocks, Newmarket.

"The hallmark of the spring sales season has been the sustained strength and depth at every level, as witnessed by the exceptional clearance rates of 93% or more at our last three sales."

SALE STATISTICS

Catalogued: 58

Offered: 56

Unsold: 3

Sold: 53

Aggregate: £2,923,000

Median: £45,000

Average: £55,151

Clearance rate: 95%