Tatts Ireland August National Hunt Sales 2019 Review

This year's Sales Statistics

*  Average : total aggregate of sold horses ÷ no. of horses sold
** Median : place all horses sold in order, highest price to lowest price, the median is the price attained by the midpoint horse
NB : as a comparison, the average price at this years Tatts Ireland Derby Sale (NH Stores) held in June was €50,572

2019  saw no sign of abatement in the number of National Hunt store horses offered for sale by Tattersalls Ireland.

Their fairly recently introduced NH Store Sale in May actually showed increases of around 15% in the average and median in selling 145 horses.
Figures at the flagship 2-day Irish Derby Sale at the end of June held the level of previous years (slight drop in average) so it was with bated breath that the results of the last of the auction house's trio of store sales were unfurled last week.

Remarkably, the number of horses both catalogued and presented for sale increased by around 50 in each category.
Naturally enough, in line with this increase in the catalogued, the average fell by around 12% to €8,285 but the number of horses sold was the highest since 2014, and by just 15 below that level. The Irish Point-to-Point scene is as buoyant as ever!

We did spot a few National Hunt stalwarts from this side of the Irish Sea over the course of the 3 days. Emma Lavelle and her team, Tom Malone buying for Paul Nicholls, Tom Lacey  amongst others. The regulars from the North were present and correct - Nicky Richards and Chris Grant with prominent owner David Armstrong.
Oh, and Brother Ali too!
But, realistically, only about 40 or 50 horses will be destined to race in Britain.

Dodlands Steading purchases

Outnumbering the aforementioned Lavelle party by about 2 to 1, the Dodlands entourage arrived bright and early each day and set about casting an eye over selected lots from the catalogue, discussing thoughts, sharing opinions and estimates of purchase prices. And several of the picks were in the final few lots of each day - so it was long days. But so worthwhile!!

Lot69 : a strong, good sized gelding by 2013 Derby runner up Libertarian, whose oldest progeny at 3yr olds this year. He is the first produce of an unraced Brian Boru mare, but there are several fair-to-useful types under the second dam. From the family of Jimmy Moffat's excellent hurdler/chaser Chief Dan George. Purchased by Callum & Craig Patterson.

 We can't wait to get going with this nice workmanlike gelding at Dodlands

Lot151 : a well bred bay gelding by another sire whose oldest progeny are 3yr olds - Valirann.  Lightly raced in France, he won a couple of staying pattern races as a 3yr old. There were some fancy prices paid for the progeny of Valirann at this summer's NH Store Sales and Mark 'Mouse' Young may well have picked up a bargain with this fellow. From the family of top class chaser Flemenstar.

 Mark Young purchased this gelding for a Hawick based syndicate

On to Day 2 and another couple of purchase for the group.

Lot388 is a cracking gelding by Sageburg. On behalf of The Buyers Club, Callum fought off stiff opposition to meet the fall of the auctioneer's hammer at €11,500.
Out of a bumper winner by Classic Cliche, this lad is a half brother to Irish winning hurdler Owl Creek Bridge .

 This good looking Sageburg gelding will certainly turn heads at Dodlands

And last but not least was Lot604. It was well after 8pm when this filly entered the ring - and it was from a family well known to all at Dodlands as she is a half sister to Paper Roses and Paper Promise.
Not overbig - but neither are her sisters - she is well made, with a well proportioned conformation!

 This filly will join her two (Paper) sisters in our yard