THE popularity of the Down Royal racehorse to riding horse league is such that it has been extended into three shows down south, one leg being staged at Gorey last Saturday while another was taking place at Saintfield Show in Balmoral Park.
The winner of the open class at the northern venue was the former Willie Mullins-trained Prince De Beauchene, who stood top under Kelsey Graham, while Alison Clancy won at the Co Wexford show with Un Atout, another French-bred former resident at Mullins’ Co Carlow yard.
Having finished sixth in his class, Michelle Kane’s Gimli’s Axe when on to be crowned the champion veteran horse at Balmoral Park where the 11-year-old Briar Boru gelding Tadhg won the riding horse championship under Alison Matthews.
Unfortunately, today’s show at Newry is no longer running a qualifier for the Down Royal league but there will be other opportunities to qualify for the final at next weekend’s National Hound Show and Family Fair in Stradbally Hall, Co Laois and at the EquiFestival in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
While we are now well used to seeing ex-racehorses in these classes and many on the eventing scene, one northern-bred former point-to-pointer received publicity last week after winning an amateur show jumping class at the Bolesworth International Show in Liverpool where he was ridden by Britain’s Stacey Willsone.
The 2005 Tikkanen gelding Steady The Helm, who was pulled-up in all three of his starts between the flags in the 2010/2011 season, was bred near Banbridge by Eunan O’Rourke out of the three-time-winning Runnett mare Lawnett.
Saintfield Show,
Balmoral Park,
Saturday, June 17th
Down Royal racehorse to riding horse league, open: 1, Prince De Beauchene (Kelsey Graham), 14yo b g by French Glory – Chopie d’Angron, by Grand Tresor, bd Raymond Bellanger; 2, Randalstown (Sarah Louise Wilson), 12yo b g by Whitemore’s Conn – Azira, by Arazi, bd Daniel Byrne; 3, Mossbank (Chloe Thompson), 17yo b g by Kadeed – Miromaid, by Simply Great, bd William McGladdery; 4, Keepthechinup (Julia Wilson), 8yo br g by Helissio – Rachels Allstar, by Fourstars Allstar, bd Liam Rice; 5, The Grassy (Rebecca Hunter), 12yo b g by Alhaarth – Headrest, by Habitat, bd Brid Cosgrove; 6 (and veteran winner), Gimli’s Axe (Michelle Kane), 18yo b g by Shernazar – Neasham, by Nishapour, bd D.J. Fitzpatrick.
Retraining: 1, Crossakiel Boy (Jenny Copeland), 11yo b g by Ridgewood Ben – Dottie’s Double, by Noalto, bd Kate Rudd.
Gorey, Saturday,
June 17th
Down Royal racehorse to riding horse league, open: 1, Un Atout (Alison Clancy), 9yo b g by Robin Des Champs – Badrapette, by Bad Conduct, bd Dominique Clayeux & Haras de Saint-Voir; 2, Smokey Bay (Ruth Cody), 9yo b g by Definite Article – Eyebright, by Zaffaran, bd William James; 3, Mr Cosmopolitan (Emma Sweeney), 10yo b g by Basanta – Miss Topoftheworld, by Top Of The World, bd Hugh W. Newell; 4, Mobile Sizer (Colin Purcell), 10yo br g by Presenting – Queen’s Leader, by Supreme Leader, bd R. Chugg; 5, Sizing Australia (Nikki Purcell), 15yo b g by New Frontier – All The Gear, by Nashamaa, bd James P. Linnane; 6, Sir Des Champs (Mary Doyle), 11yo b g by Robin Des Champs – Liste En Tete, by Video Rock, bd Dominique Clayeux.