THE ladies’ side-saddle race at Lisronagh tomorrow has attracted a full field of 13 plus two reserves, with entries from across the country.

The 10-furlong flat race is confined to non-thoroughbred horses, the oldest of whom tomorrow is the 20-year-old grey gelding Paddy, the mount of Wexford’s Niamh Drea.

Three seven-year-olds are due to come under starter’s orders, viz the grey gelding Funny Grey, who will be partnered by Sarah Killeen from Co Meath, the Irish Draught gelding Summerbridge Jordan whose rider, Hazel Valentine, used to race in point-to-points and on the track, and Lisroe Warrior.

That bay gelding will be partnered by Jacqui Freyne, the superfit side-saddle race organiser along with Ber Bourke. Jacqui is one of four Co Tipperary riders in the race as are with Rosemary Caplis (Red Bull), Amelia Turner (Money Bags) and Maria O’Grady (Fortwilliam Henry).

Maria, who is married to racehorse trainer Edward O’Grady, used to do a lot of side-saddle riding when she was younger and returned to the discipline for one of the recent ‘sideways’ hunts. She is keen to win the first prize of a season’s subscription to the Tipperary Foxhounds.

Megan Quigley travels down from Dublin with her eight-year-old Silvano mare With Or Without You, Laura Hyde comes up from Co Cork with the show horse Ballinapark Max (by Crosstown Dancer) while Co Kilkenny will be represented by Helena Hennessy Ruane, who rides the 13-year-old Irish Draught, Damerstown Archie.

DRIVING FORCE

Co Carlow’s Ciara O’Connell, one of the driving forces behind side-saddle riding in Ireland, will be on board the nine-year-old chesnut gelding Hudson with Sarah Conway, head girl at Michelle Nelson and Kieran Connors’ Orchard Lodge Stables in Kilcullen, partnering the “superstar” hunter OLS Flying Vision.

Travelling over from Co Galway is former point-to-point rider Amory McMahon who won the Intermediate side-saddle class at Dublin in July on her mother Kate’s Currantarmuid Inis Faith and finished second in the ladies’ hunter division with Hennessy Ruane’s Cloneyhea Clancy.

Tomorrow she partners the homebred 10-year-old Heigh Ho Silver gelding Currantarmuid Inisfree.

The reserves are current point-to-point rider Aine Dagg from Co Wicklow and another Tipperary follower, Nicola Everard.

As the first race at Lisronagh tomorrow, the four-year-old maiden, looks certain to divide having attracted 35 entries, the organisers hope that the runners in the side-saddle race will be ready to leave the parade-ring at 3.30pm. Good luck to all!