Presenting mare goes for €43,000 as Russell hails success of Pat Coffey sale

Jockey Davy Russell described Monday's dispersal sale of the late Pat Coffey's string as a "big success", with point-to-point winner Ayleoola topping proceedings at €43,000.

The eight-year-old daughter of Presenting, who won a mares' maiden at Belclare in 2017, is a sister to bumper and hurdle winner Gunnery Sergeant and a half-sister to a pair of hurdle winners in Minellaforleisure and Damefirth, so it was no surprise she attracted plenty of interest.

Russell said: "The family were very pleased with the sale and the way it was run. It was very well supported by people in the industry and was a big success. Pat was a very popular man.

"Unfortunately the family weren't able to handle the string, so the main objective was for everything to be sold. That's what happened, so everyone was very happy."

A bay colt by Mount Nelson out of point-to-point winner Out Of Africa realised €30,000, while a chestnut colt by Soldier Of Fortune made €16,000. His dam, Dustys Delight, is a sister to the very smart Tricky Trickster, who won the Grade 2 Aon Chase at Newbury in 2010.

Another son of Soldier Of Fortune, whose dam beat none other than Missunited in a bumper at Limerick on her debut, went for €15,000.

Coffey was tragically killed in a horse and trap accident in October and his entire string went on the market on Monday, with 27 horses sold. Eleven fetched five-figure sums.

Coffey, a well-known figure on the Irish point-to-point circuit, enjoyed a career highlight at Huntingdon in 2014 when sending out the well-punted Saddlers Deal and That's A Fact to win, both of whom were partnered by Russell.

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