Feature race double for Cheltenham Sales graduates

On Saturday the two feature races on Kempton’s and Warwick’s card went the way of Cheltenham Sales graduates.

At Warwick ÉCLAIR SURF galloped his rivals into the ground in the Grade 3 Classic Chase for Emma Lavelle and owners Dominic Burke and Tim Syder. The son of the late CALIFET put his rivals to the sword from an early stage under Tom Bellamy and went clear after three out to record a thirteen-length victory at the line. He was purchased for £140,000 by Gerry Hogan Bloodstock at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival Sale from Monbeg Stables handler Cormac Doyle.

Down at Kempton COBBLERS DREAM made light work of winning one of the most competitive handicap hurdles run each year when streaking to victory in the Listed Lanzarote Hurdle for Ben Case and Lady Jane Grosvenor. The six-year-old son of YEATS was purchased for £85,000 by Kevin Ross and his trainer from Paul O’Connell’s Kilphilibeen Stables at last year’s Cheltenham April Sale stage at Park Paddocks, Newmarket.

SPORTING JOHN recorded another impressive victory in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at Warwick and now looks set to take his chance in the final at the Cheltenham Festival. He ran out a cosy three length winner at the line for Philip Hobbs and J P McManus. He was bought by connections for £160,000 at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival Sale when offered by Matthew Flynn O’Connor’s Ballycrystal Stables.

The next sale at Cheltenham will be staged on Saturday 29th January after racing in the Tattersalls Sales Arena.