Aintree sale-topper Samcro hacks up on rules debut

Samcro took the first step towards justifying his huge price-tag with a near ten-length victory in a Punchestown bumper on his rules debut on Sunday.

The four-year-old son of Germany topped the inaugural Goffs UK Aintree Sale in April, when bought by his new trainer Gordon Elliott on behalf of owner Gigginstown House Stud for £335,000.

Samcro had been consigned by master point-to-point trainer Colin Bowe, who had saddled the gelding to win between the flags at Monskgrange five days before the auction in Liverpool.

His point-to-point form has been boosted by the runner-up at Monskgrange, Elegant Escape, winning over hurdlers at Chepstow and Ascot for his new trainer Colin Tizzard in recent weeks.

Samcro raced in the point-to-point field for his breeder Douglas Taylor, who bred the gelding out of the unraced Saddlers' Hall mare Dun Dun.

The dam - who has also produced Cocacobana, a son of Snurge who won three hurdle contests under rules - is a sister to Grade 2 novice chase winner Master Of The Hall and useful handicap hurdler Featherbed Lane and a half-sister to smart handicapper Pairofbrowneyes.

Further back it is the family of top-class chaser Sound Man.

Elliott said after Samcro hacked up at Punchestown: "He's a good one. We won't be doing a lot with him this season - he might have only one more run around Christmas or early in the New Year but he's some horse to look forward to further down the road, over hurdles and fences."

It is early days for Samcro, who has been given quotes of 20-1 for the Champion Bumper, but he is certainly by the right sire, as Germany has also supplied brilliant hurdler Faugheen and fellow Cheltenham Festival scorers Captain Cee Bee and Tiger Cry.