Pace picks up as No Risk At All foal stars on first day of Goffs December Sale

A festive bonhomie settled over Kildare Paddocks on Monday as the first day of the expanded December National Hunt Sale.

Twinkling fairy lights and strategically-placed Christmas trees brightened the midwinter gloom, with spirits raised further by the pace of selling, as the Goffs auctioneers got through the 182-strong catalogue in under six hours.

The increase in speed is the result of a strategy initiated by Goffs CEO Henry Beeby at the Orby sale earlier in the autumn.

"We listened to feedback from vendors and purchasers about how long the sales days are and the length of time it takes to sell, so we deliberately decided to cut down on the introductions for each horse," he explained.

"People do their homework, if they are going to try to buy a horse they will know everything about it so we no longer give long introductions, just the lot number, sire and dam, and any updates since the catalogue was published."

Purchasers at the top end of the charts on Monday most definitely would not have needed any spiel from the rostrum to help them make any buying decisions as renowned judges sparred for the choice foals on offer during the first session.

Rathmore Stud's Peter Molony signed for the top lot, the only foal in the session by Haras du Montaigu's brilliant sire No Risk At All. Offered by Yorton Farm, who have sent a high-class team of youngstock to Goffs this week, he is the first foal out of the Grade 3 An Riocht Chase third Mrs Lovett.

The Yorton team with their Blue Bresil colt bought by Richard FrisbyCredit: Peter Mooney

The daughter of Sir Percy was trained by Gordon Elliott for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and won three of her 19 starts over fences, and six of her career starts in total, including a debut success at two on the all-weather at Lyon -La Soie for her first trainer, Francis Graffard.

Molony said of the €85,000 purchase: "He is a lovely foal and by a serious stallion. As an individual, he is a great mover and hopefully he will come back here for resale at the Land Rover Sale."

The chestnut colt shares his second dam, the Listed Starlit Stakes third Madame Boulangere, with Living Legend, who defeated last season's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Yibir in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket this year for Charlie and Mark Johnston.

His sale was the second big one of the day for the Yorton team of David Futter and George Stanners, who earlier on had sold a son of Blue Bresil to Richard Frisby for €47,000.

The colt is the second foal out of Kilbarchan, a winning Jukebox Jury half-sister to the Italian Grade 1-placed hurdler King Heart.

Frisby was busy stocking up on future store sale horses at Goffs, where he also purchased a Walk In The Park filly from Rathmore Stud for €44,000.

JJ (left) and Richard Frisby in action at GoffsCredit: Peter Mooney

The bay is a half-sister to Seelotmorebusiness, who won a Chepstow maiden hurdle for Paul Nicholls and the Stewart family. Their dam Land Of Pride is a Presenting half-sister to Splash Of Ginge and out of a half-sister to Nicholls' first Gold Cup winner, See More Business.

Jonbon's Grade 1 success at Sandown on Saturday was another fine example, as if one were needed, of Walk In The Park's prowess as a sire and Coolmore Stud's sensation was behind the only other two foals to make in excess of €50,000 during the opening session of the 2022 December National Hunt Sale.

Interestingly, and in what may increasingly become more of a tactic at the National Hunt foal sales as a reaction to the soaring trade in store horses, both the colt and filly were bought as racing and not pinhooking prospects.

Mouse O'Ryan waited until five lots from the end for John Dwan's homebred Walk In The Park half-sister to One For Arthur, Lucinda Russell's 2017 Grand National hero.

Born on Valentine's Day, she is also a half-sister to the Grade 2-placed chaser Forza Milan and under her third dam are Philippa Cooper's Irish St Leger, Prix Foy and Yorkshire Cup winner Duncan, Group 2 Doncaster Cup winner Samuel and Gretchen, who won the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes.

As a half-sister to four winners, with such an impressive pedigree, it is unsurprising that O'Ryan's client will hope to develop Ballyreddin Stud's filly into a foundation broodmare.

Ian Ferguson signs for the Walk In The Park colt from Peria StudCredit: Peter Mooney

The agent said of his €60,000 purchase: "She is a gorgeous filly and she has been bought to race, and hopefully then to retire to stud as a broodmare.

"She is a lovely filly with a great outlook and bred by a great producer in John Dwan. She's a half-sister to a Grand National winner with half-siblings by Kayf Tara, No Risk At All and Milan still to run, and it's a great staying pedigree."

The Walk In The Park foal bought by Ian Ferguson from Peria Stud for €58,000 is another who won't be seeing the inside of a sales ring as a three-year-old, with the buyer revealing plans for a racing career.

"He is not coming back for resale, he will go to the Wilson Dennison academy," Ferguson stated, after thwarting the purchasing plans of Frisby.

The March-born foal is the first born of Lily Of Leysbourne, a Shirocco full-sister to the Grade 3 Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle third Tedham. Lily Of Leysbourne won one and was second in the other four of her starts for Fergal O'Brien, and is a daughter of Alegralil, who won a Listed mares' hurdle at Wetherby for Donald McCain.

Walk In The Park was responsible for exactly half of the top ten lots on Monday from just five foals offered and his average during the session was €49,000, with the median coming in at €45,000. His average was a little more than double that of both Crystal Ocean and Blue Bresil, who remain immensely popular with buyers.

All three recorded averages significantly above the sale average of €15,229, which in itself climbed eight points from the 2021 figure, while the median of €10,000 was an increase of five per cent from last year.

Turnover dropped by 22 per cent year-on-year to €1,507,700, but last year's aggregate of €1,926,000 was generated from a larger catalogue, with 227 horses offered as opposed to 152 on Monday.

The sale continues on Tuesday with the second of four sessions starting at the earlier time of 10am.

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