January success highlights the quality on offer at Ascot Sales

Ascot sales graduates have made an impressive start to 2018, so far this year there have been a total 30 winning Ascot graduates on the track highlighting the increase in quality on offer at the venue.

On Friday Scorpion Sid purchased by Tom Malone on behalf of trainer Jamie Snowden for £50,000 at last year’s inaugural Tattersalls Ireland Ascot March Sale ran out the most impressive fifteen length winner of his novice hurdle at Chepstow on his first start for his new trainer. The son of Scorpion was placed 2^nd on his debut in his point-to-point for handler Stuart Crawford.

Saturday saw Dan McGrue run out a highly taking 11 length winner of his novice hurdle at Taunton for trainer Paul Nicholls. The son of Dansant was recording his second victory in a row at the Somerset track and looks a potentially high class recruit who has the size and scope to continue progressing. The winner of his bumper at Roscommon back in August 2016 he was purchased by Richard Barber for £60,000 at the Ascot August Sale and consigned by John Nicholson.

Other notable winning graduates this month include Chu Chu Percy, Quick Pick and Tailor Tom. Chu Chu Percy bought by Kevin Ross from the select session of the 2016 July Sale and trained by Alistair Whillans for Paul and Clare Rooney recorded back to back successes when scoring at Catterick on the 11^th January. He was produced and sold by William Harney.

On the flat Count Otto recorded his second win from only four starts when only having to be shaken up to win going away over 6f at Lingfield on 17^th Janaury. The highly progressive son of Sir Prancelot was a £33,000 purchase from last year’s two-year-old Breeze Up Sale by Peter and Ross Doyle for Amanda Perrett from CAJ Stables.