Christmas Festival Grade 1 Success for Store Sale Graduates Grangeclare West and Jango Baie

Derby Sale graduate Grangeclare West maintained his unbeaten record over fences when producing a faultless performance in landing the Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown. The son of Presenting was purchased at the 2019 Derby Sale from Glenwood Stud by Joey Logan Bloodstock for €62,000. Having won his sole point-to-point start for trainer Denis Murphy, he was purchased at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale by Cheveley Park Stud.

Jango Baie maintained his unbeaten record with a hard fought win in the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. The son of Tiger Groom was purchased at the 2022 May Store Sale for €30,000 from Lakefield Farm by Matt Gahan. He was second on his sole point-to-point start for trainer Michael Goff and was subsequently purchased by current connections at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale.

Now trained by Nicky Henderson, the four-year-old made a winning debut at Ascot last month, and this Grade 1 victory for Jango Baie elevated him into the top bracket of leading Novice Hurdlers this season.

It was a significant win from a May Store Sale perspective, because it was a first Grade One graduate from this sale. The May Store Sale has produced Cheltenham Festival winner Telmesomethingirl, and recent Grade Two winner Slade Steel, and Jango Baie looks a horse that will take high rank in the Novice Hurdle division through the second half of the season.

Constitution Hill maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles with a dominant display in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. It was a remarkable seventh successive Grade 1 victory for the Michael Buckley-owned son of Blue Bresil. He was purchased as a foal at the 2017 November National Hunt Sale for €16,500 from Throckmorton Court Stud by Barry Geraghty and Warren Ewing. 

Found A Fifty provided Gordon Elliott with a second career win in the Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown. The six-year-old son of Solksjaer, Found A Fifty was offered at the 2018 February National Hunt Sale by Burrowroad Stables. It was a first Grade 1 success for Elliott’s charge, having been placed twice in the past in graded company.

The only horse to have beaten Jango Baie, the JP McManus-owned No Flies On Him, broke his Maiden tag over hurdles with a very impressive racecourse debut at Leopardstown. He was sold by Graigue Farm to Michael Hyde for €82,000 at the 2022 Derby Sale, having been initially sold as a foal at the November National Hunt Sale by Springfield House Stud to Matt O’Connor. No Flies On Him is now trained by Edward O’Grady, who afterwards spoke glowingly about the four-year-old, and mentioned that Grade 1 entries are now warranted.

There was graded success for the Willie Mullins-trained Loughglynn in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Limerick. He hails from the family of Grade 2 winning novice chaser Shakervilz and he was consigned by Castledillon Stud at the 2021 Derby Sale and purchased by Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for €40,000. The five-year-old sold initially as a foal at the 2018 November National Hunt Sale by Shanaville Stables to Timmy Hillman.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Master Chewy added a first graded win to his CV when landing the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton. He was purchased as a foal at the 2017 November National Hunt Sale from Sheridan House Stables by Gerry Hogan for €28,000. Having finished third on his sole point-to-point start for Pat Doyle, he changed hands at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale when purchased by Willie Twiston-Davies. This win for Master Chewy was a second win over fences for the son of Walk In The Park.

The Susannah Ricci-owned Joystick created a favourable impression when making a successful racecourse debut at Leopardstown. He was sold as a foal in 2019 at the November National Hunt Sale by Ballyreddin Stud to Alan Harte Bloodstock. He was also sold at the 2022 Derby Sale by Coolagh Stud and was purchased by Suirview Stables for €95,000. The grey son of Coastal Path faced a persistent challenge in very testing conditions at Leopardstown but proved one-and-a-quarter lengths too strong for point-to-point winner Artic Gale.     

Meetingofthewaters was another November National Hunt Sale graduate to land a valuable prize. Making his handicap debut in the fiercely competitive Paddy Power Chase, the lightly-raced son of Court Cave looked a step ahead of the handicapper when running out a four-and-a-half length winner. He was consigned in 2017 at the November National Hunt Sale by Rheindross Stud, and purchased by Mount Eaton Stud for €18,000.

Nominations are now being taken for the 2024 Tattersalls Ireland Store Sales.