Slattery youngsters create big interest at Cheltenham

Andy Slattery's two lots at last night's Brightwells National Hunt Sale in the Centaur complex at Cheltenham racecourse were among the headline makers with Chablais setting a record price for any horse ever sold here at £260,000.

Selling under the Meadowview Stables, Co. Tipperary banner, Chablais, a son of Saint des Saints (sire of Quito De La Roque, Quel Esprit, Me Voici etc.) won his point-to-point at Horse And Jockey last month. Bought by Slattery for €11,000 as a three-year-old at the 2008 Goffs Land Rover Sale, Chablais ran out an impressive eight length winner that day.

Richard Kelvin-Hughes bought Chablais last night through David Minton of Highflyer Bloodstock and he will put the five-year-old into training with Nicky Henderson.

Invictus was part of a double for Slattery and rider Roger Quinlan at Horse And Jockey. He beat Prince Among Kings (trained by Colin Bowe then and sold at this sale for £95,000) by a neck in the four-year-old maiden, drawing eight lengths clear of Trappapony.

Martin Blake's winner is out of a four-time winner in the mid-90s, Clashwilliam Girl, who was placed on a further 17 occasions from 38 starts. She has already bred John's Eliza, who won a bumper and a hurdle for Jessica Harrington. Invictus was also bought by Kelvin-Hughes, for £162,000 and he will be going to Alan King.

The same owner also bought Minella Class, a Naas bumper winner for John Nallen and Trevor Horgan, for £95,000 and he will be going to Nicky Henderson.

Carribs Leap, a point-to-point winner for trainer Jim Doyle (brother of Pat) and owners Tom Rudd and his girlfriend Katie Clift at Durrow in 2009 was sold for £200,000 to agent Aiden Murphy. The subsequent bumper winner will be staying with his current trainer, Charlie Egerton and is reported to be for a new owner.

Minella Stars, who won for Trevor Horgan and John Nallen at Lemonfield this year (on the same day as Last Instalment and a few other potential top-notchers) made £135,000 and he will be going to Paul Nicholls for a new owner.

Another of many big-money purchases on the night was Ipsos du Berlais, who Noel Meade bought for £100,000. He was part of a four-timer for Martin Cullinane at Belclare on March 14th.

Cullinane commented on the day of that fellow: "He has a great pedigree and as he was very green there. There is loads of improvement in him."

Of course Cullinane sold Go Native to the Docado Syndicate and he has been a brilliant servant for themselves and his trainer, Noel Meade.