AS a lot has been written about him elsewhere in these pages this week, I won’t mention that Co Donegal-born jockey with the double-barrelled surname who keeps banging in the winners.
Others who have returned to the No 1 spot over the past couple of weeks were Patsy Cosgrave, Darragh Keenan, Oisin Orr and Paddy McGettigan, Brian Hughes, Sam Ewing, Simon Torrens and Dara McGill.
On the breeding front, there was a win at Market Rasen on Saturday for the Raymond McArdle-bred eight-year-old gelding St Patricks Bridge (Hillstar – Glazed Storm, by Vinnie Roe) who justified 3/1 favouritism when landing the near two-mile, six-furlong handicap chase by five and a half lengths.
I have to go back a few days before that to note the win at Ballinrobe of the Danny Doran-bred six-year-old gelding Leave In Secret (Elusive Pimpernel – Secret Leave, by Long Leave) who also rewarded favourite backers in the extended two-mile maiden hurdle.
Last Friday evening, Natalie Lupini sent out the Invincible Spirit gelding Bishopton to win the seven-furlong apprentice maiden on his 12th start. Among the owners of the three-year-old bay is Nigel O’Hare.
WHILE some parents will be persuaded to bring their children to the last of the big inter-Branch Pony Club competitions, the Home Championships, at Dirraw Farm on Monday, others will be digging out their finery for the Ladies’ Day meeting at Downpatrick.
If you do go racing, don’t forget the Style prizes of £2,000 cash and a hamper from The Dress House for the most appropriately dressed lady and a £500 voucher to spend at AJC Electrical from the AJC Group for the best dressed gent.
Deciding on the destination of the prizes will be our good friend Pamela Ballantine, ‘a celebrated Northern Irish television presenter with a keen interest in horse racing and style’; Carly Wilson, ‘a 23-year-old student from Rathfriland, Co Down who will represent Northern Ireland at the 73rd Miss World Festival’; and Charlene Byers who ‘owns and runs The Dress House in Mayobridge, Co Down specialising in the hire of designer hats and fascinators and also jewellery sales’.
I HAD great plans to mention in last week’s column the many local people I met over the five days of the Dublin Horse Show.
Well I didn’t for one obvious reason in that I didn’t write a column at all and the world has moved on since. However, I would like to like say how good it was to see Toni Quail up and about at the show, to see that George Stewart had an entry in one of the working hunter classes and that Hilary Gibson, who will probably attend Downpatrick on Monday, had a very successful few days with her Jamie Smyth-produced middleweight hunter champion Mr Venture Elm and her winning lightweight cob Highview Forthriver.
THE College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) exhibited at the Dublin Horse Show, providing staff with the opportunity to engage with a vibrant community of equine enthusiasts, students and industry professionals.
Throughout the five-day event, CAFRE staff were on hand to meet prospective learners and to catch up with current students and graduates. The team provided detailed information about the wide range of equine education opportunities available at CAFRE, including full-time programmes, flexible online courses and industry-focused training events.
CAFRE’s presence at the show highlighted the college’s commitment to supporting the equine sector through education and training. Staff engaged with attendees to discuss career pathways in equine science, management and training. They shared insights into the hands-on learning experiences offered at the Enniskillen Campus, which is home to CAFRE’s renowned equine facilities.
Engage directly
“Exhibiting at the Dublin Horse Show offered us an opportunity to directly engage with equine enthusiasts. We had many conversations with prospective students who are passionate about horses. Lots were eager to explore how CAFRE can help them turn that passion into a career.
“Our stand attracted many former students, giving us the chance to reconnect with them and hear about their careers since leaving CAFRE,” commented Jenny Richardson, Equine Lecturer.
In addition to showcasing course offerings, CAFRE staff promoted upcoming industry training events designed to support continued professional development within the equine sector. These events are tailored to meet the evolving needs of the industry and provide valuable learning opportunities for those already working with horses.