Gold Well shines at Cheltenham - on track and in sale ring

Coolmore new recruit Gold Well made a big splash at Cheltenham on Saturday when responsible for both one of the day’s best-backed winners and one of the most sought-after lots at the evening sale. The Jonjo O’Neill-trained Mr Watson (6g Gold Well-Risk And Reward, by Topanoora) landed a huge gamble when making a winning handicap debut under Tony McCoy in the concluding handicap hurdle. The six-year-old, who was bred by Maurice Sheehy, had been bought for £215,000 at Cheltenham in April and was made favourite for the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after this effort. A couple of hours later, O’Neill showed his admiration for Gold Well’s progeny when paying £100,000 for Allow Dallow (6g Gold Well-Russland, by Surumu) at the Brightwells January Sale after racing at Prestbury Park. The six-year-old, who was bred by Simon Fahey, had won a Dromahane point-to-point for Michael Winters in December.