Worrying response to auction races but too soon to make any sweeping judgements

Four-year-old maiden races have been thriving in recent seasons and they were once again a rich source of Cheltenham Festival winners last month.

In an effort to open up further opportunities within them the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee has introduced a number of four-year-old auction races for those horses who were bought at store sales for €25,000 or less.

The first such contest of 2021 will take place at Fairyhouse this weekend and with just one hour to go before entries closed last Tuesday there were only six horses engaged in it.