Bloodstock group, Robert J. Goff, has doubled pre-tax profit from £340,000 to £681,000 in the year ended March 31st, 1997. The growth is attributed to a rise in the sale of bloodstock and an increase in the financial services business. Also, cost increases were limited to 3 per cent.

Group sales went up from £3.1 million to nearly £3.6 million. The average price of yearlings sold at Goffs rose by 48 per cent, said the chairman, Dr Michael Dargan. The increase in prices extended through all levels of yearling sales. "It reflected the upswing in the bloodstock market and also an upgrading in our international marketing." Goffs France generated an after tax profit of £75,000 which represented a "small decrease" on the previous year despite an increase in sales. This, Dr Dargan said, reflects difficulties in the "horses in training" market and some add-backs to provisions made in earlier years. Sales this year are broadly in line with last year.

IBH leasing business enjoyed some growth and this is expected to continue this year. Its insurance side "will continue to attract support" despite a "highly competitive environment". The move towards building a tourist village at its Kildare paddocks complex has continued to progress. It has planning permission to build a 130 bedroom hotel and this has been extended for a further five years. Enquiries from "interested parties" are being assessed. The group's tax charge jumped from £89,000 to £261,000. The figures are not directly comparable as the comparable year benefited from carried forward losses from earlier years. Earnings per share rose from 0.49p to 0.88p. The dividend has been raised from 0.25p to 0.35p. The group is in a strong financial position with net cash of almost £2 million.