A look at the names and numbers behind 2018's blockbuster point-to-point sales

Friday's Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale brought the curtain down on the 2018 sales season, and provided further indication of the rude health the top of the point-to-point market finds itself in.

There were 12 six-figure lots boasting point-to-point form at Cheltenham on Friday, led by Chantry House, who was transformed from a €26,000 store into a £295,000 sale-topper, having won a four-year-old maiden at Tattersalls Farm for up-and-coming handler Cian Hughes.

When factoring in the results of Cheltenham's end-of-season finale, a total of 82 point-to-pointers fetched six-figure sums during the 2018 season, up from 70 £100,000/€100,000 plus lots at the corresponding point in 2017.

To further emphasise the rate of growth in this market, it was only five years ago that the 2014 sales season drew to a close with 30 six-figure pointers having changed hands.

While this year's sales across the Tattersalls Cheltenham, Goffs and Goffs UK auctions saw six point-to-pointers fetch £300,000/€300,000 or more, down from nine in 2017, it is worth remembering that only three such lots sold during 2014, 2015 and 2016 combined.

The Cheltenham sales, which are hosted by Tattersalls following the purchase of Brightwells Bloodstock Sales in May 2015, have seen an explosion of six-figure prices in recent years, having sold 53 £100,000 plus point-to-pointers during each of the last two sales seasons. This year's prices were topped by the £410,000 Dlauro, who was knocked down to Joseph O'Brien in February.

By way of comparison, just 23 six-figure pointers were sold at Cheltenham in 2016.

Truckers Pass: one of 12 six-figure lots at Cheltenham's December SaleCredit: Debbie Burt

The boutique Goffs UK Aintree Sale, which began in 2016, has also provided an important outlet for point-to-point horses.

With the likes of Samcro - who fetched £330,000 at the inaugural sale - and the hugely exciting Malone Road - a £325,000 buy earlier this year - having sold there, the Aintree Sale has quickly become established as an auction where big money can be made, and even bigger talents unearthed.

This year 12 six-figure lots changed hands in the Aintree parade ring, up from six in 2017. It is a similar tale at the Goffs Punchestown Sale, where eight six-figure pointers sold in 2018, led by Highflyer Bloodstock's €320,000 purchase Lecale's Article.

Sires on fire

A total of 83 different sires have supplied a six-figure pointer during the last five years of public auctions, ranging from household names like Presenting and Milan, to as yet unheralded talents such as Racinger and Fracas.

Flemensfirth has proved the most prolific in the last five years, with the Beeches Stud stalwart having been represented by 17 sons and daughters who fetched £100,000/€100,000 or more after appearing in a point-to-point.

However, while Flemensfirth was responsible for the most six-figure lots in the last five years, the title of leading sire of six-figure pointers in 2018 goes to Stowaway, as the late son of Slip Anchor highlighted his popularity by supplying no fewer than eight horses who brought £100,000/€100,000 or more during the last 12 months of sales.

Heading Stowaway's prices in 2018 was the £330,000 Feel My Pulse, one of the joint top lots at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale who was signed for by Margaret O'Toole and Gordon Elliott Racing, having been offered by Donnchadh Doyle of Monbeg Stables.

TOP POINT-TO-POINT SALE SIRES 2018

Stallion (sire) Number of six-figure lots
Stowaway (Slip Anchor) 8
Jeremy (Danehill Dancer) 5
Flemensfirth (Alleged) 5
Oscar (Sadler's Wells) 4
Getaway (Monsun) 4
Malinas (Lomitas) 4

The late Jeremy - who died at the age of just 11, meaning his final crop are three this year - also emphasised what a loss he was to the National Hunt breeding world by siring five six-figure lots in 2018. The most expensive of those was The Very Man, who fetched £210,000 from Gordon Elliott at Cheltenham in May. The Very Man looked a smart prospect when comfortably landing a Navan bumper on rules debut earlier in December.

Getaway, a rising star of the jumps sire ranks, has supplied 12 six-figure pointers since 2014, including ten in the last two years alone, and looks a name well worth following.

Top trainers

Granted the lucrative on-sale market for horses boasting point-to-point form, competition among trainers has seldom been more fierce, and in the last five years over 80 different operations have sold a six-figure pointer at public auction.

Colin Bowe has been the standout operator during this period, having sold 32 six-figure point-to-pointers. Track record counts for an awful lot in the point-to-point market, and having sold horses such as Samcro, Getabird, and the promising Envoi Allen, who maintained his unbeaten record at Navan on Sunday, it is clear to see why buyers remain keen to purchase Bowe's offerings.

Colin Bowe: prepared Samcro and Envoi AllenCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Bowe prepared and sold 12 six-figure lots during 2018, a tally that saw him tie with Donnchadh Doyle of Monbeg Stables.

Doyle, whose brothers Sean and Cormac have also enjoyed recent sales success, has now sold 27 six-figure lots since 2016, and has had his talents showcased by horses such as Holywell, Monbeg Dude, Monbeg Notorious and The Last Samuri.

Also worthy of mention is Ballyboy Stables' Denis Murphy, who has sold 25 six-figure lots since 2014, and has been represented by classy sorts such as the ill-fated Finian's Oscar, Shantou Village and the progressive Palmers Hill.

With positive on-course results, buoyant store horse trade, and an unmistakable upward trend, there is every reason to believe there will be yet more giddy highs to come from the point-to-point market in 2019.

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