THE Goffs UK January Sale opened on Tuesday with a session of National Hunt mares and foals. Although there were plenty of buyers present, they were selective in their purchases, resulting in 71 horses sold from 114 offered.

The average foal price of £11,568 was the third highest in the sale's history, despite the catalogue not featuring a dispersal sale unlike last year.

Topping Tuesday's session was Little Lodge Farm’s Kayf Tara colt from the family of Grade 2 winners Definite Ruby and Stormyfairweather, who sold to Brendan Bashford Bloodstock for £58,000.

Selwood Bloodstock’s Blue Bresil colt out of the Grade 2 placed mare Mickie was knocked down to Kevin Ross Bloodstock for £50,000.

The second and final day of the sale will start at 10am on Wednesday and features horses-in-training and point-to-pointers.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES (NH FOALS)

(2018 figures include the Trull House Stud Dispersal)

Offered: 114

Sold: 71 (62%)

Aggregate: £821,350 (-44%)

Average: £11,568 (-8%)

Median: £7,500 (-17%)

COMPARATIVE FIGURES (DAY 1 TOTAL)

(2018 figures include the Trull House Stud Dispersal)

Offered: 151

Sold: 93 (62%)

Aggregate: £1,024,450 (-62%)

Average: £11,016 (-32%)

Median: £6,000 (-40%)

MORE BLOODSTOCK SALES NEWS IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND