Skelton scoops notable bonus thanks to Victory Club's successful rules debut

Dan Skelton’s Victory Club became the first horse to trigger ThoroughBid’s £15,000 Point2Rules Bonus by winning on his debut under rules at Southwell on Wednesday evening.

The five-year-old Soldier Of Fortune gelding, purchased by Skelton for £20,000 at the online auction house’s March Sale, stuck on well to land the Class 5 bumper under former champion point-to-point rider Jack Andrews.

The horse was purchased from Harriet Dickin’s yard for £20,000 and has now recouped 75 per cent of his purchase price.

Skelton, the owner-trainer of Victory Club, said: “We rolled the dice and it has paid off! Our £20,000 purchase of Victory Club looks like a snip now he’s already won three-quarters of that back and hopefully he’s got a bright future too.

“We thought he looked a nice type and were very pleased to be able to pick him up for just £20,000, particularly when factoring in the chance of winning this £15,000 Point2Rules Bonus.

"Owning and training horses for profit is the aim of the game for many people in the industry, and it’s initiatives like this that make that achievable.”

James Richardson, CEO of ThoroughBid, said: “We’d like to extend a big congratulations to Dan and the team and look forward to following Victory Club’s progress over the summer and into the autumn."

He added: “The final chance to buy and sell pointers to qualify for the Point2Rules Bonus will be at the June Sale, on Friday the 10th, and we look forward to seeing the catalogue, which already includes the classy duo of Itchy Feet and Rouge Vif, fill up over the coming weeks.”

ThoroughBid’s Point2Rules Bonus offers £5,000 to any graduate of a UK or Irish point-to-point sold in a ThoroughBid auction during the 2021-22 point-to-point season that wins their first start post-sale in either a bumper, hurdle race or steeplechase under rules in the UK or Ireland, with a further £10,000 available for any graduate of a British (English, Scottish and Welsh) point-to-point.

Grandero Bello became the first horse to trigger the bonus, picking up £5,000 for winning a maiden hurdle at Punchestown on his rules debut in February.

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