From the moment Edmond Mahony received an opening bid for €10,000 for the first foal into the ring on Tuesday morning, it was clear that the November National Hunt Sale had ascended to a higher plane, and that was made plain by dramatic rise in the average and median figures for the day, which were significantly improved on the preceding two foal sessions.

Tuesday's average of €22,694 was almost double the average recorded on Monday at 83 per cent higher, while the median of €18,750 was a staggering increase of 108 per cent on Monday's figure.

The clearance rate remained frustratingly low at 67 per cent, but that was an improvement on the preceding days.

As the format of the sale has been changed this year, it is difficult to draw direct comparisons with individual sessions from previous years and the statistical picture will become clearer at the end of play.

The Frisby family are all in on Walk In The Park, but it appeared that every big player in the marketplace wanted in on Ballincurrig House Stud's colt by the champion National Hunt sire and out of Listed Prix Finot Hurdle winner En Vedette. 

Every ideal vantage point for bidding was claimed before the entrance of the half-brother to the Grade 2-placed mares Sabrina and Lady Adare, and the Frisby family had a pretty good view of the ring from their perch at the top of the stairs.

They were pushed all the way by Gerry Aherne, who stuck diligently to his task, and when he made a bid of €90,000 it seemed that either his persistence would pay off or the auction would witness its first six-figure transaction this November. 

JJ Frisby struck back at €92,000 and for a moment it appeared that the race to €100,000 was on, but Aherne had reached the limits of his budget and Frisby father and son were left in possession of their third Walk In The Park foal of the week.

This one, said JJ Frisby, 'has everything'.

A day short of nine months old, the bay was bred by Louis Vambeck and is a full-brother to a three-year-old gelding who sold for £105,000 earlier this year to Ryan Mahon and Dan Skelton. 

He is also a half-brother to Grand Vendetta, by Flemensfirth, purchased at the 2023 Derby Sale by Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls, who trains their Yeats half-sister Sabrina. Grand Vendetta realised €72,000 as a foal at the November National Hunt Sale, also consigned by Ballincurrig House.

JJ Frisby and his father Richard are also strong believers in another son of Montjeu, Burgage Stud sire Jukebox Jury, and added a colt bred by County Down brothers Daniel and Peter Doran, and their cousin JP King, for €60,000 to their foal collection.

Speaking after purchasing the son of Corrie Lake, a bumper winner by Stowaway, JJ Frisby commented that it was the colt's athleticism that was his most eyecatching attribute.

"The sire is on fire, and he's as good a walking foal as was here all week," he said. "He has a good pedigree, but he is an outstanding individual with a big walk."

On the suggestion that he might top the Derby Sale in 2027, JJ smiled and said cautiously: "Well, hopefully he'll sell well anyway."

For the Doran brothers and their cousin, it was an unforgettable experience.

"It is our biggest result in the ring," said Daniel Doran  "He's one of the better foals we have bred but, even so, we weren't expecting that and it is a huge amount of money for a foal. We're delighted."

The brothers have 11 mares at their home farm and neighbour Sammy Murphy of Stone Lodge Stud prepared the striking colt for sale and she also led him up for his turn in the sales glare.

Corrie Lake won a Fontwell bumper for Suzi Best with Jamie Moore in the saddle and the Dorans, along with cousin King, have given her the best possible opportunity to excel as a broodmare by covering her with Jukebox Jury.

Doran commented: "We gave her a good covering with Jukebox Jury for two years; we are big fans of the sire and everything has worked out well. She has crossed well with him."

Corrie Lake's first foal made €32,000 at the 2023 November National Hunt Sale, where he was bought by Tom O'Brien, who returned on Monday to purchase a Diamond Boy colt out of Grade 3 winner Kilbarry Chloe.

Like O'Brien, the Frisby family were in action during Monday's session, when they bought a pair of Walk In The Park colts for €42,000 apiece and outside the ring snapped up a son of Blue Bresil for €29,000.

Walk In The Park leads the way

The Frisby family are known to be fans of Walk In The Park, and their bidding on the colt out of En Vedette showed that they were determined to secure him. The colt's pedigree, athleticism and strong performance at the sale made him a desirable acquisition for many buyers, but the Frisbys were ultimately successful, paying €92,000 for the colt.

The colt's success is a testament to Walk In The Park's reputation as a champion National Hunt sire. The sire has produced numerous successful horses, including several Grade 1 winners, and his foals are consistently in high demand at sales.

Jukebox Jury Continues to Impress

Jukebox Jury, another son of Montjeu, is also enjoying a rise in popularity. He had eight foals sell for at least €60,000 at the sale, and his average price for the week was higher than all but Walk In The Park. This is particularly noteworthy considering that his stud fee is significantly less than that of Walk In The Park.

The high prices for Jukebox Jury's foals are a reflection of his success on the track. He has sired several notable winners, including Il Etait Temps, and his progeny are increasingly sought after by buyers. Jukebox Jury is well-positioned to continue his climb to prominence in the breeding world.

Other Notable Sales

In addition to the Walk In The Park colt and the Jukebox Jury foals, several other lots at the sale attracted significant attention. One such lot was the Golden Horn colt out of Mill Quest, who sold for €74,000 to Kevin Ross and Ben Case on behalf of Lady Jane Grosvenor. The colt's pedigree, athleticism and the success of Golden Horn as a sire made him a valuable acquisition.

Another notable sale was the Poet's Word filly out of Ballyshannon Rose, who sold for €72,000 to Chris Jones of Killeen Glebe Stud. The filly's pedigree, her strong performance at the sale, and the success of Poet's Word as a sire made her a desirable purchase.

A Successful Sale

The Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale was a successful event, with strong prices for many of the lots offered. The sale was highlighted by the success of Walk In The Park and Jukebox Jury, both of whom are enjoying a rise in popularity in the breeding world. The high prices for their foals are a testament to their success on the track, and their continued success will be eagerly awaited by breeders and fans alike.

A Touch of Magic

The sale also saw some magical moments, with the sale of the Poet's Word filly, a half-sister to Magical Zoe, being a particular highlight. The filly's pedigree and strong performance at the sale made her a desirable purchase, and her success will be eagerly awaited by her new owners. The sale was a testament to the enduring appeal of the National Hunt horse, and the excitement surrounding the next generation of stars.