Exciting point-to-point scorers among 22 initial Aintree Sale entries

Where would a trainer or agent hoping to find the next Samcro start looking? Well, they could do worse then browse the 22 initial entries received for this year's Goffs UK Aintree Sale, the same auction at which the top-class hurdler was sold to Gordon Elliott for £335,000 in 2016.

Samcro set a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 92 when winning his four-year-old maiden at Monksgrange, and the four-year-old Malone Road looks sure to sell well having recorded an RPR of 95 for his three-and-a-half length maiden success at Loughanmore at the end of March.

Meanwhile, the Stowaway gelding Champagne Platinum equalled Samcro's point-to-point mark when winning a four-year-old maiden by six lengths at Quakerstown at the beginning of April.

Also featured in the catalogue are a quintet of promising pointers who have set a similar standard and earned an RPR of 91.

Colin Bowe's Milestone Stables, who sold the horse since billed as the 'second coming', will offer Kiltealy Briggs, a four-year-old son of the late Fame And Glory who finished second to Prince Kayf in a head-bobber at Inch in late March.

Donnchadh Doyle's Monbeg Stables includes the promising pair Gaelik Coast and Madiba Passion among its initial draft.

WATCH: replay of sales graduates Samcro and Black Op completing a one-two in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle

Gaelik Coast, a son of Coastal Path, was a four-length winner at Castletown-Geoghegan at the beginning of April while Madiba Passion, a son of Al Namix, defeated Ontheropes by a head at Punchestown point-to-point back in February, with the latter subsequently sold to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for £240,000.

Completing the quintet is Lisnagar Oscar, a five-year-old son of Oscar and winner at Liscarroll in March, and Soldier At War, a son of Soldier Hollow who was a highly creditable second to Malone Road at Loughanmore.

The former will be offered by Denis Fitzgerald's Lisnagar Stables, while the latter will be consigned by Warren Ewing's Bernice Stables.

Goffs UK managing director Tony Williams said of the initial entries: "Goffs UK and Aintree racecourse have been very fortunate to have enjoyed what has been a dream start for the Aintree Sale.

"The inaugural sale two years ago was an immediate success in the ring, with 2017 following suit, and to see graduates such as Samcro, Black Op, Topofthegame and Blackbow all perform at the highest level is the best advertisement for the concept."

Goffs UK Aintree Sale

Where/when winner's enclosure, Aintree; sale takes place after racing on Thursday, April 12

Sold last year From 22 offered, 17 sold for turnover of £1,720,000, an average of £101,176 and median of £90,000.

Star graduates Samcro (bought by Gordon Elliott for £335,000), Black Op (Roger Brookhouse, £210,000), Topofthegame (Highflyer Bloodstock, £120,000)