Willie Mullins, Gigginstown House Stud and J.P. McManus' son Kieran all spent big at Thursday's Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham May Sale, which saw 11 point-to-pointers sell for six-figure sums.

The aggregate rose 56% to £3,568,000, the median jumped 8% to £45,000 and the average made huge strides with a 41% increase to finish on £69,961. The clearance rate was 76%.

Leading the way was El Barra, a four-year-old gelding by the French-based sire Racinger consigned by Robert Tyner's stables. Placed second on his only start at Dromahane, he was knocked down to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for £280,000, a record price for this sale.

Kirk and Mullins were also responsible for the purchase for the next highest price lot; Monkfish, a winner at Stowlin (East Galway) in April for his handler Cormac Doyle. The Stowaway gelding is a half-brother to a dual track winner as well as being out of a daughter to the nine-time winner Martomick and was knocked down for £235,000

Run Wild Fred made his track debut a winning one and this resulted in another six-figure sum transaction. James Doyle consigned the four-year-old under his Baltimore House Stables banner and the gelding fetched £225,000. Bringing down the gavel, the auctioneer thanked Mags O'Toole and Eddie O'Leary for the purchase but the official sales results credit the buyer as Lodge BS.

Two further lots broke the £200,000 barrier; Lock's Corner, a 12 length debut winner of the four-year-old maiden at Dawstown for Colin Bowe was sold to Kieran McManus for £215,000. The Very Man was offered by Stuart Crawford's Newlands Farm after winning his four-year-old maiden at Loughanmore. The Jeremy gelding was sold to Gordon Elliott Racing for £210,000.

LOTS MORE BLOODSTOCK NEWS IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND