Four-year-olds by young exciting jumps sires led proceedings at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale, the top two lots being by Crystal Ocean and Poet's Word, with Crystal Island (Lot 29), a debut point-to-point winner, selling for £205,000 and leading this season’s concluding Tattersalls Cheltenham sale.
There was strong trade throughout the one-day session, which produced a turnover of £2,597,000, an average price of £66,590, and a median of £50,000. Six horses sold for £100,000 or more.
Crystal Island, by Crystal Ocean, was bought by Jerry McGrath, who was purchasing on behalf of Tony Barney, owner of this year’s Grade 1 Arkle Chase winner Jango Baie, a graduate of the Tattersalls Cheltenham February 2023 Sale.
"We saw this horse at the end of January when we were doing our rounds looking at the four-year-olds and he stood out then,” reported McGrath. “He is a lovely horse and is a very likeable sort, the sire is doing well.
“What I really Iiked about his run is that quickened going to the last, made a mistake, was a bit slow away, but then picked up again from the back of the fence. He is going to Nicky Henderson, and is for Tony and friends.”
The gelding was sold by Eamonn Doyle under his new Mossy Fen Stables banner; previously Doyle had consigned with his family's Monbeg Stables.
“This is the first horse sold under Mossy Fen Stables,” he said. “He is a beautiful horse by a very good up-and-coming sire and has a very bright future ahead of him.”
A €60,000 store purchase, Crystal Island is out of the Heron Island mare Je T'Aime a half-sister to Grade 1 winner J'y Vole and Jeanquiri, dam of the Grade 3 winner Lifetime Ambition.
New top lot at the #CheltenhamApril Sale as Crystal Island fetches £205,000 from @JerrymcGrath on behalf of Tony Barney, owner of Jango Baie, and heading to @sevenbarrows.
— Tattersalls Cheltenham (@TattsCheltenham) April 17, 2025
The Eamonn Doyle-trained 4yo son of Crystal Ocean ran out a smart winner on debut at Rathcannon. pic.twitter.com/RitUO6B512
The Irish Avatar (Lot 7), a four-year-old son of Poet's Word, was sold by Colin Bowe’s Milestone Stables to Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for £200,000.
A debut runner-up at Dromahane on April 6, he is out of the Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Dinaria Des Obeaux.
Bowe said: “He has been a lovely horse right from the first day we bought him. He is out of a very good race mare and the stallion can do no wrong – he got the winner of the bumper here today, and his stats are very good.
"There is loads of improvement in him – he is a big scopey sort, and he was just beaten by a very sharp horse on his debut.”
Kirk added: “The sire’s on fire and has had a fantastic point-to-point season. This horse is out of a very good racemare by Saddler Maker, whom I love. He’s a beautiful individual and was highly recommended for the long term by Colin.”
The gelding was previously bought by Joey Logan for €85,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Foal Sale, and by Milestone Bloodstock for €100,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.
It was a strong evening for Colin Bowe, who also sold Unflinching (Lot 20), a five-year-old by Montmartre, to Gordon Elliott Racing for £150,000. Out of the Listed-placed Kapirovska, he won his point-to-point on the same Dromahane card.
Unflinching was bought at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale by JM Bloodstock for €95,000.
Tattersalls Cheltenham Sales Manager Shirley Anderson-Jolag commented: “We are delighted to have brought the 2024–25 sales season to such a strong conclusion, with six six-figure lots sold today, following on from a record-breaking Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale.
“It is a clear reflection of the quality of horses offered at Tattersalls Cheltenham and the continued interest from National Hunt owners looking to secure future jumping stars. There has been a vibrant atmosphere on the sales ground throughout the week.
“We are extremely grateful to the Jockey Club team for their ongoing support and assistance across the season, and to the entire Tattersalls Cheltenham team for their hard work and commitment.
“We now look forward to the Tattersalls Ireland May Point-to-Point and Horses in Training Sale at Fairyhouse on May 29th.”
