Goresbridge announces three point-to-point sales for 2025

Goresbridge Horse Sales has announced dates for three point-to-point auctions for 2025, building on the firm foundations laid by the successful reintroduction of National Hunt sales at the Kilkenny venue this year.

The first of the sales is scheduled for April 23, with the second on June 4 and the third due to take place on December 4. The timings are strategic so that trainers can maximise the selling opportunities for their horses to the domestic and British market.

Ed Donohoe, managing director of Goresbridge Horse Sales, said: “The response to our inaugural sale confirmed what we’ve known for some time; there’s a hunger for a reliable, cost-effective platform for point-to-pointers right here in Ireland. The success of these events underlines the importance of providing our industry with an alternative platform.”

Following a hiatus of six years, point-to-point sales returned to Goresbridge in April and the sale was hailed a success, providing vendors with a local outlet for horses they wished to trade and with the auction strongly supported by British trainers and agents.

Already the sale has supplied winners on the track, including Epic West, who made €60,000 at Goresbridge in the spring, when he was purchased by Tom Malone from Monbeg Stables. The five-year-old Mount Nelson gelding made a winning debut over hurdles at Carlisle last month for Jamie Snowden.

Small Town Kid was another of the Monbeg draft at the April sale to catch the eye of a British yard, with Bobby O'Ryan going to €54,000 on behalf of James Ewart for the five-year-old son of Getaway.

He also made a successful hurdling debut for his new connections, winning at Newcastle last month.

Others to have already provided their new owners with victories are Cloonainra and Birmingham Alabama, with the pair of five-year-olds winning maiden hurdles first time out at Sligo and Wexford respectively.

The response to April's sale was so positive that a second sale was held on November 30 and, with the experience behind them, the team at Goresbridge is determined to provide a platform for Irish trainers.

Donohoe said: “This is about more than filling a gap; it’s about creating something lasting – 2024 was just the beginning.

"We’re working to grow the market, attract new participants, and build a sales environment that benefits everyone involved. There’s no doubt this is a long-term commitment, and we're excited to see where it takes us.”

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