Does £570,000 get you a Cheltenham winner? Big-money buyers will soon find out

Win, or at least catch the eye in, a point-to-point and go through a sale ring shortly after. It’s like an industry within an industry, the premier purveyors of which are in Ireland, albeit the amateur scene in Britain is gradually becoming a little more commercial.

Trade at sales containing promising point-to-point graduates, especially in Britain, has been strong for a number of years, with Jonbon and Classic Getaway setting a new benchmark of £570,000 within a few weeks of each other in late 2020, and early indications are that auctions in 2022 will continue that trend.

Splashing out a lumpy six figures is no guarantee of success under rules, and for some owners recouping the outlay is in any case more a bonus - if your purchase is good enough to take you to the major festivals, and can provide a few memorable moments either side, that’s justification enough.