4:24PM, JAN 26 2021
Some 12 months ago the Goffs UK January Sale ensured the British and Irish auction calendar began with a bang as the highly touted bumper winner Keskonrisk set a new record when knocked down to Henrietta Knight for £370,000.
This time around, however, the Doncaster sales ring will remain empty with Goffs UK having been forced into moving the event online as a result of ongoing Covid-19 related restrictions.
The sale, which begins on Tuesday at 10am, will be the first exclusively online event hosted by Goffs UK and will also see the introduction of timed auction software, with bidding on each lot set to close two minutes after the proceeding lot. However, any bid placed inside the final five minutes will extend the sale time for that lot by a further five minutes.
UPDATED 4:52PM, JAN 30 2021
The link between the Buchanan family and Hollymount, who looks set to be one of the major attractions at Tuesday’s online Doncaster January Sale, is closer than exists even with the more hands-on owner-breeders.
Peter Buchanan, the retired National Hunt jockey, rode the filly s dam Zaffarella on many occasions, partnering her to victory on her penultimate start at Uttoxeter in 2010.
He has been doing the groundwork on many of the mare’s progeny, including Hollymount, who cantered to victory on her bumper debut at Carlisle last month in the colours of the Northern Irishman’s sister, Jane, who is a bloodstock agent and racing manager for Graham Motion’s leading American stable.
Eleven ‘End the Lockdown’ protesters were arrested outside the Four Courts in Dublin yesterday for alleged breaches of Covid restrictions and public order offences.
Eleven ‘End the Lockdown’ protesters were arrested outside the Four Courts in Dublin today for alleged breaches of Covid restrictions and public order offences.
UPDATED 7:29PM, JAN 19 2021
Irish racing was left reeling on Tuesday following the revelation that Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Charles Byrnes s licence has been suspended for six months after Viking Hoard was found to have tested positive for a sedative following a race at Tramore in which he was heavily laid to lose.
One wager had a liability of €34,889 to win €3,200 on the defeat of Viking Hoard, who was pulled up in a handicap hurdle in October 2018 having drifted from 4-1 to a starting price of 8-1. No evidence was found linking Byrnes to these bets.
It was established that Viking Hoard was subject to a dangerous degree of sedation during the race , and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board s referrals committee accepted the interpretation of the evidence the horse had been nobbled by an unidentified third party when left unaccompanied. It consequently noted that it follows as a matter of probability that Mr Byrnes s general mode of operation permitted