A HOST of Ireland’s leading point-to-point handlers are selling winners and placed horses at next week’s two-day Goffs UK Spring Horses in Training and Point-to-Point Sale. There are 370 horses catalogued and another 84 supplementary entries were added this week.

Just 12 months ago Warren Ewing and Barry Geraghty sold point-to-point runner-up Constitution Hill here for £120,000 and he of course went on to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Among the handlers with drafts heading to Doncaster next week are Denis Murphy, Harley Dunne, Robert Tyner, Colin McKeever (13 lots), Colin Bowe, Monbeg Stables (Cormac, Donnchadh and Sean Doyle), Tom Keating, Rob James and Sam Curling.

This sale is best known as a marketplace for horses-in-training, surplus to the requirements of the leading jumps trainers. Just about all the top British trainers have consignments in the sale again this year, including Alan King, Ben Pauling, Tom Lacey, Ian Williams, Tom George, Evan Williams, Harry Fry (selling Grade 1 winner If The Cap Fits), Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jonjo O’Neill, Kim Bailey, Dan Skelton, Paul Nicholls, Rebeca Menzies, Philip Hobbs, Nicky Henderson, Colin Tizzard (selling Grade 1 winner Reserve Tank), Olly Murphy, Warren Greatrex and Sam Thomas.

Among the Irish trainers sending horses with racecourse form to the sale are Denis Hogan, Shark Hanlon, Emmet Mullins, Stuart Crawford and Paul Nolan.

The point-to-point section features last weekend’s Broughshane winner Kinbara (see page 42), recent Fairyhouse winner Adieulevieux Enki, and Stowlin runner-up Minella Diamond.

Also in the catalogue is Porthill, a four-year-old by Flemensfirth who finished just two lengths behind Adieulevieux Enki on his debut, and Shuil Ceoil, who fell at the last when contesting for the lead in the same race.

Tim Kent, managing director of Goffs UK, said: “The Spring HIT/PTP Sale is the largest National Hunt horses-in-training sale in the world and it’s great to see it so well supported again by so many leading owners, trainers and point-to-point handlers.

“As ever the sale features some significant dispersals as Doncaster Spring has an unrivalled record when it comes to this category, most recently when the Grech & Parkin Dispersal was topped by a record-breaking top price of £620,000, whilst Million In Mind is always a highlight and has enjoyed some great days in the Doncaster sales ring.”

Sale Info

Sale: Goffs UK Spring Horses In Training & Point-to-Point Sale in Doncaster

Dates: Wednesday and Thursday, May 18th and 19th (10am each day)

Lots: 446 (including 84 supplementary entries this week)

Tel: 0044 1302 349166

Email: winners@goffsuk.com

Web: goffsuk.com