£570,000 purchase Classic Getaway turned over at odds-on by Mullins stablemate

Thursday: Clonmel

Classic Getaway will always be labelled with the tag of fetching a record-equalling £570,000 in the sales ring after winning his point-to-point, and being seen to have justified such a price seems a little further away after he was comprehensively outgunned by his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Cash Back in the feature Munster Hurdle, despite being in receipt of 9lb.

There seemed to be no excuses. Cash Back has had his jumping problems over fences and was having his second run back after an absence of a year, but he still had a rating of 140 over hurdles – and showed why.

Paul Townend took 5-6 favourite Classic Getaway to the front early on the final circuit, which gave Danny Mullins a perfect target to aim at, and once he got to the front after the second-last he put the race to bed quickly.

"That was a good performance," said the King George-winning jockey. "I was a bit surprised he was so ignored in the betting. He had a good comeback run at Cork and it's nice to see him back in the winner's enclosure.

"It was a good performance to give 9lb to the runner-up. He has always had the engine and that was a nice confidence-booster."

The winning rider was also complimentary about the runner-up. He said: "I wouldn't discount him yet, it was a very good run for a horse having his first run over hurdles and he will come on plenty for that."

1.50 Clonmel Thursday: full result and race replay

Who is Classic Getaway?

The six-year-old son of Getaway was bought on behalf of Cheveley Park Stud for £570,000 – the joint-highest price paid for a point-to-pointer at public auction – at the Goffs UK December P2P Sale in December 2020.

The sales fee matched the record price paid for Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Jonbon at the same venue five weeks earlier.

Successful in a Borris Hill point-to-point for Donnchadh Doyle last November and described as a "proper one" by the renowned handler before his subsequent sale at Yorton Farm, Classic Getaway got off the mark under rules at the first attempt when winning a Tipperary bumper by 15 lengths under Patrick Mullins in May.

Classic Getaway in the Yorton Farm sales ring before being knocked down at £570,000Credit: James Thomas

Five top-seller point-to-point horses picked up at public auction

Jonbon (£570,000)

Has plenty to live up to, being a Walk In The Park full-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Douvan, but has done nothing wrong in three starts for Nicky Henderson, including winning an Ascot Grade 2 last time. Snapped up by JP McManus at the Goffs UK November Sale at Yorton Farm in 2020 after a 15-length Dromahane point success.

Classic Getaway (£570,000)

Joined Douvan in equalling the record for most expensive pointer bought at auction. Son of Getaway won his sole point start at Borris House before being picked up by Tom Malone and Gordon Elliott at the Goffs UK December Sale at Yorton in 2020. Won his sole bumper for Willie Mullins before Thursday's odds-on defeat over hurdles.

Flemenshill (£480,000)

From the family of Hennessy winner Strong Flow, he sadly died of a heart attack while at exercise just seven months or so after being purchased by Malone and the Tizzards at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham January Sale in 2017. Won his only point at Oldtown by four lengths from subsequent Grade 2-placed hurdler Defi Bleu.

Presenting Forever (£370,000)

The winner of two points, the son of Presenting sold to Howard Johnson at the 2008 Doncaster May Horses In Training Sale. A half-brother to dual Cheltenham Festival winner Champagne Fever, he failed to win in four starts over hurdles but won twice and was Listed-placed over fences.

Samcro (£335,000)

The son of Germany beat Elegant Escape in his point at Monksgrange before selling to Elliott at the Goffs UK Aintree HIT Sale in 2016. A half- or full-brother to two winners, Samcro won his first seven starts under rules, including the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. He added the Marsh Novices' Chase two years later but has struggled of late.
Kitty Trice, bloodstock reporter

Dinoblue impresses on debut

Willie Mullins began the day by providing the first three home in the mares' maiden hurdle, with newcomer Dinoblue a particularly impressive winner under Mark Walsh for owner JP McManus.

Backed down to even money favourite, she jumped well and quickened impressively from the second-last, leaving her Paul Townend-ridden stablemate La Prima Donna 15 lengths adrift.

"She was very good," said Walsh. "She wasn't very keen but I decided to let her use her long stride. She glided along that ground and jumped brilliantly. She was professional the whole way and she has a real engine."

She was shortened to a general 10-1 shot for the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham.

Croke mare quietens Full Noise

After bolting up at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, Ronan McNally attempted to get another win from Full Noise under just the mandatory penalty, but the 1-3 favourite managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory under Donagh Meyler in the 2m3f handicap hurdle.

He looked in control coming to the last, but a mistake opened the door for Mrs Watson and she took advantage, holding the odds-on favourite all the way to the line under Jack Foley for Wicklow trainer Peter Croke.

Results, replays and analysis

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday