Ryan McElligott

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All eyes were on Navan last Sunday as the top chaser Flemenstar made his return to action in the Fortria Chase. As expected, the eight-year-old made his first start since switching from Peter Casey to Tony Martin a winning one but his performance was characterised by an unconvincing round of jumping. He spent quite a lot of time in the air at a number of his fences, something he simply cannot afford to do when he moves up in grade and a much sharper display will be needed if he is to add to his Grade 1 haul.

Navan also witnessed a performance of note from Minella Foru in the For Auction Novice Hurdle. This four-runner affair was run at a very sedate pace and the odds-on Very Wood wasn’t seen to best effect from the front but there was still a lot to like about Minella Foru’s display. He quickened up smartly off the slow pace and the manner in which he took control of the race on the run-in was pleasing. He has cleary made good progress from his maiden hurdle win at Listowel in September.

A quality card at Naas on Saturday was a portent of things to come this winter as Willie Mullins notched up a four-timer. The champion trainer’s haul included a winning reappearance for last season’s dual Grade 1-winning juvenile hurdler Diakali and a successful debut for Shaneshill in a four-year-old bumper. A son of King’s Theatre, Shaneshill showed a fine attitude to make all the running and it was significant to hear his trainer talking in terms of huge improvement following this run.

Also worth a mention from Naas are Road To Riches and The Tullow Tank. This time last year Road To Riches looked a jumper of immense promise but his form tailed off alarmingly on his last two runs of the campaign. The Gamut gelding got his career back on track in a well-contested beginners’ chase where he made all the running and jumped superbly to look like one that could hold his own in quality company in due course. Meanwhile, The Tullow Tank overcame a mistake at a vital stage and some trouble in running to defeat the high-class bumper horse Turnandgo in what looked a smart maiden hurdle.

Doncaster Sale

On the sales front, Doncaster took centre stage with its two-day autumn sale posting an improved set of final figures. A catalogue of horses-in-training and yearlings was dominated by the progressive John Gosden-trained Thomas Hobson. A winner of four of his seven starts, the Halling colt made £240,000 after being bought by Harold Kirk to join the all-conquering team of Willie Mullins.

Keeneland sales success

Across the Atlantic, the pivotal Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continued the heartening improvement in trade which has been the cornerstone of the major thoroughbred auctions in North America this year. With five days of selling remaining, the auction had already surpassed the entire turnover for the 2012 renewal.

Centre stage was occupied by the Grade 1-winning racemare Awesome Maria who was sold in-foal to Giant’s Causeway and was bought by MV Magnier for $4 million.