NORTH Down Marquees is once again sponsoring the Connemara classes which, in association with the Northern Ireland Connemara Pony Association, take place in Horse Arena 1 on Thursday.

The opening in-hand class for mares has attracted 13 entries, one more than last year. The 2017 winner, Frederiksminde Mellow II returns to defend her title but the 10-year-old daughter of Hazy Dawn mare is now in the ownership of Robert Fallon. She will again face last May’s second-placed mare, Ann Larmour’s grey Chequerhill Miss Truly.