Andoversford winner heads strong market for British pointers at Aintree sale

Four British pointers were offered and sold at Goffs UK’s Aintree Sale yesterday evening, headed by Sunday’s Andoversford winner Eurobot, winner of the GX Land Rovers Open Maiden that concluded the card.

The Tom Ellis-trained son of Malinas was led up by the trainer's wife, Gina Andrews, and knocked down for £105,000 to bloodstock agent Mags O'Toole, a frequent buyer for Gigginstown House Stud. Owner/breeder Chris Harriman, who still owns the dam, Welsh National-winning mare L'Aventure, said of the price: "It's realistic, but in this market I think the buyer has bought good value. I was tempted to keep him, but I have other horses to pay for."

Eurobot (near side) under Gina Andrews, picks up the GX Land Rovers Open Maiden [Photo credit Carl Evans]

Highflyer bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley, acting for owners Stuart Grech and Mike Parkin, gained Shannon Hill (Lot 16, pictured below), a son of Kayf Tara who won in grand style at Brampton Bryan in Herefordshire on Saturday for the stable of Fran Nimmo. Bromley's bid of £85,000 fended off interest from trainer Anthony Honeyball.

Another Brampton Bryan winner, Tortuga Bay (Lot 15), from Phil Rowley's yard, was sold for £60,000 to agent Bobby O'Ryan, who said the daughter of Sulamani would be joining trainer James Ewart. O'Ryan and Ewart teamed up last year to buy Black Pirate out of Rowley's yard, and the son of Black Sam Bellamy is now unbeaten in two bumpers.

Hackwood Park winner Cook The Books (Lot 13) completed the UK consignment, selling from Tom Weston's yard for £30,000 to agent Ryan Mahon on behalf of Dan Skelton.

Trade at the sale showed gains in all the key indicators. Turnover, which had dropped 22% last year, did a U-turn, rising 43% to £2,417,000, the average went up 15% to £115,095, while the median gained 16% to level out at £100,000.

The sale topper at £325,000 was four-year-old Malone Road (Lot 17), the winner of an Irish point-to-point at Loughanmore two weeks ago. Malone Road was bought by bloodstock agent Tom Malone on behalf of David and Patricia Thompson, who own tomorrow's Randox Health Grand National hopeful Seeyouatmidnight.

Goffs UK is sponsoring two point-to-point bumpers, at Exeter on the 24^th of April and at Aintree on the 18^th of May. The first three from each race are guaranteed a place in the company's Spring Sale at Doncaster.