RONAN McNally’s training and placement skills were in evidence once again last Sunday at Downpatrick where, under a brilliant ride from Mark Walsh, The Trigger notched up his fifth successive victory in the space of five weeks.

The run, which started in a handicap chase at Tipperary on July 1st, encompassed handicap hurdles at Kilbeggan, Limerick and Galway before Sunday’s four-and-a-quarter-length victory in the near three-mile, and fairly wordy, Toals Dial-A-Bet Check Out Our Exclusive D-A-B Specials Handicap Chase.

Just like the Dubs, having completed the ‘Drive For Five’, McNally’s 11-year-old Beneficial gelding is now in ‘The For Six’.

The bay was led up at Downpatrick by the owner/trainer’s elder son Tiernan while his biggest fan, Kian (aka ‘Tubbs’), was grooming for his mother, Sheena Kerr-McNally, at the Border Counties Riding Club one-day event at Cloncaw Equestrian outside Glaslough in Co Monaghan.

Sheena explained: “Kian was fed up with not being allowed on the racecourse and not being able to celebrate so he came with me instead. We can’t believe how Trigger just keeps improving – he’s a star of a horse!”

Sheena finished third, on her dressage score, in the Advanced Intermediate class at Cloncaw on her 12-year-old gelding Pegasus who is often out on the gallops with the racehorses but is not the one Kian wants to ride.

Now well-accustomed to appearing on camera, Ronan was interviewed at length by Gary O’Brien on Racing TV, explaining how they transformed The Trigger’s attitude to racing by varying his exercise programme – bringing him to the beach, going hunting and cross-country schooling – while they now do very little with the gelding at home between races.

On a high from landing five handicaps in a row with his horse, McNally still remembered those for whom the day had been their saddest. “I would just like to dedicate that win to wee Katie Simpson who lost her life this morning in tragic circumstances. I’d like to dedicate it to her friends and family.”

Katie, a sister of former apprentice Christina Simpson, was well-known throughout the racing and equestrian communities in Northern Ireland but particularly so on the hunting field where she was renowned as a fearless rider.

The Irish Field would like to extend its sympathy to her parents Jason and Noeleen, sisters Christina, Rebecca and Alesha and brothers John and Joe. Katie’s funeral took place in Tynan on Thursday afternoon when those attending were asked to do so in hunting attire.