Holdens primed for quick return as Douvan's brother Jonbon heads to Yorton Farm

Few Irish point-to-point winners have caught the imagination more than Jonbon, the brother of eight-time Grade 1 winner Douvan who is set to take a starring role at Thursday's Goffs UK November Sale.

Trainer Ellmarie Holden has made up for any lost time with the four-year-old, who was bought in partnership by her father for €140,000 at the 2019 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.

Jonbon was an extremely impressive winner of a maiden point in Ireland last Sunday and was swiftly announced as one of 12 wildcards for an event that was switched to Yorton Farm on the Welsh borders as a precaution in order for it to go ahead as a physical sale.

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Attendance will be heavily restricted to those involved with the sale, but Holden accompanied her exciting talent on the journey.

"Since he arrived in the yard everything has come very easy to him, he just took it all in his stride," she said. "He was ready to run at the end of last season but everything stopped due to Covid. It was very easy to get him back to where he was and he’s a good-looking horse.

"He won very impressively on Sunday and jumped very well. Everything went to plan, thank God."

Although Holden does train some horses under rules, Jonbon’s initial purchase had always been a business-minded decision.

"This is what we do, we buy store horses and try to win with them and sell, keep them turned over," she said. "He’s there to be sold, but he won’t be given away either."

Just under a year ago, Holden’s Coolmeen Stables had a remarkable result with Gordon Elliott purchasing Sir Gerhard, a son of Jeremy who had similarly bolted up under Derek O’Connor in an Irish point, for £400,000.

Sir Gerhard was impressive on his debut for Cheveley ParkCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"He won a bumper for Gordon a few days ago and did it impressively," said Holden. "We've roughly 35, 40 in the yard with a couple of nice horses to look forward to between now and Christmas. Hopefully we might have one or two more to be sold, then we have the stores and the other three-year-olds for next year."

This new sale was announced only in the autumn in order to compensate for lost point-to-point meetings and auction opportunities.

It has suffered several alterations in time and venue but has been rewarded by a strong-looking catalogue of just under 70 mainly four- and five-year-old pointers after withdrawals. The action begins at 12pm at the picturesque Welshpool farm run by David Futter.

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