The two day Goffs Land Rover Sale was topped by a son of Shantou out of the Grade Two placed mare Sparkling Sword (Lot 33) who was sold by Stephen Lanigan O’Keeffe to Eddie O’Leary for €85,000.

Howard Johnson went to €75,000 for Oak Tree Farm’s Senor Alco (Lot 73), the three year old Dom Alco gelding is half brother to three jumps winners in France. Johnson also signed for Abbey Stables’ Zagreb gelding (Lot 91) at €50,000 and a son of Presenting from Rathmore Stables (Lot 94) for €44,000.

A Definite Article half brother to Grade One placed and four time winner Luska Lad (Lot 519) led the way on the final day. The Court Stud consigned four year old, who is out of a half sister to the talented Fota Island, was purchased by Gary Moore Racing for €27,000.

Next highest price of the day was Landscape Stud’s Old Vic half brother to three winners (Lot 277) who was knocked down to Emerald Bloodstock for €22,000, while two lots making the €20,000 mark were Bishopstown Stud’s son of Flemensfirth (Lot 444) who was bought by Pier House Stud and a three year old gelding by French sire Maresca Sorrento. A half brother to a Listed placed hurdler, he was sold by Bluegate Stud to Paul Nolan.

Commenting on the positive trade over the two day Land Rover Sale, Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby said:

“We are quite happy with the two days trade as the general consensus before the sale was that this could be a very tough market. A 64% clearance rate is acceptable at any sale but National Hunt stores were always going to be one of the most different categories to sell this year so this figure is perfectly satisfactory.

"Indeed, the clearance rate is probably the most relevant statistic as everyone accepts that these horses were produced and/or bought when the world was in a different place, meaning direct price comparisons are not really appropriate.

"We must applaud the pragmatic approach of vendors as they have, quite simply, rolled up their sleeves and worked with us to get horses sold. As we have said on a number of occasions, this is absolutely crucial at the moment, as we must keep the wheel turning.

"Purchasers this week may well have found some real value but we are absolutely confident they will have found top class National Hunt performers”.