Tattersalls Ireland graduates show superiority this weekend

Tattersalls Ireland continued their successful run of winners over the weekend with SIZING JOHN winning the competitively fought Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday. It was SIZING JOHN's first trip over three miles giving trainer Jessica Harrington her first winner in the Irish Gold Cup. SIZING JOHN, owned by Ann and Alan Potts, was sold as a foal at the 2010 November National Hunt Sale by Ballincurrig House Stud for €16,000 to John Bleahen.

NATIVE RIVER keeps his Cheltenham Gold Cup chances very much alive after winning the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday. A small field set off on a steady pace but it was NATIVE RIVER who pulled clear after the last fence to win by three and a quarter lengths.  Trained by Colin Tizzard for Brocade Racing, NATIVE RIVER was sold at the 2010 November National Hunt Sale by his breeder Mr Fred Mackey for €6,000 to John Dineen.

FINIAN'S OSCAR, another star in Colin Tizzard's stable, did exactly what NATIVE RIVER completed in 2015 and surpassed his rivals to win the Listed Novices' Hurdle at Exeter yesterday, by four and a half lengths. FINIAN'S OSCAR was first offered as a foal at the November National Hunt Sale by his breeders Richard and Martin O' Keeffe.  As a three-year-old he was purchased at the 2015 Derby Sale by Tower View Stables for €50,000 from Glenwood Stud. He was secured at the 2016 Cheltenham November Sale by agent Tom Malone and Colin Tizzard for £250,000.

FLYING ANGEL took the honours in the Grade 2 Kingmakers Novices Chase at Warwick on Saturday. Rejuvenated after a recent break, the Arcadio gelding who was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles, is now a lively contender for either the Arkle or the JLT at the Cheltenham Festival. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies the six-year-old gelding was sold for €15,000 at the 2011 November National Hunt Sale by Jamestown Consignment to Rathmore Stud.