Cheltenham whirlwind should be seen as an incentive to buy a store

Standing by the ring at Tattersalls Ireland November Sale at Cheltenham last Friday was to be part of a bloodstock whirlwind.

The ring was packed with racegoers – which made for a great atmosphere – and a remarkable 13 of the 41 horses offered made a six-figure sum, with a £380,000 top lot. The majority were Irish pointers, although there were no British pointers on offer, principally because the season did not start for another 48 hours.

This bonanza will have one of two effects on the sport this side of the Irish Sea – people will say it is unfair Irish pointers are viewed so highly and there is no point trying to match them, or they will see it as an incentive to buy a store in a bid to win a point and take it to market. A £5,000 store who becomes a £25,000 winning pointer within a year is good business – they don’t have to make six figures to be profitable.