AMONG those who attended the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association seminar on the challenges facing the National Hunt industry at Tattersalls on Monday were Peter and Ann Downes of Russellstown Stud.

The Westmeath couple were decidedly pleased to be sitting down and out of the wind and rain having been thoroughly drenched and windblown on their first visit to Tyrella last Saturday for the East Down Foxhounds’ February point-to-point.

The pair are members of the Ringfort Racing Syndicate, owners of the Prunella Dobbs-trained older mares’ maiden winner Miss Honeypennie who gave Rob James the first leg of a double when scoring by half a length from the staying-on Legacy Phoenix.

The seven-year-old Milan mare was bred by the Downes’ son and daughter, Robert and Melanie (who was also at the meeting). She is the first foal out of the unraced Snurge mare Beesplease, a half-sister to the four-time winner Father Matt (by King’s Ride) who was twice Grade 1-placed over fences. This is the family of Carobee, Winter Squall and Mister Hotelier.

CLEVERLY NAMED

Following Miss Honeypennie, who was cleverly named by a Dublin syndicate for whom she finished third twice in two outings between the flags in the autumn of 2014, Beesplease produced Indy Five. A 2010 gelding by Vertical Speed who was trained here by Pat Doyle, he won a point on his second start at Glenbane in November 2014 having fallen when set for victory first time out at Rathcannon.

The mare’s next foal, a 2011 mare by Kalanisi, has been named Kalbee and she was purchased from the Downes family by Michael O’Reilly, another member of the Ringfort Racing Syndicate who braved the elements on Saturday. Kalbee was followed by colts in 2012 and 2015 by Court Cave.

“We were delighted with Miss Honeypennie on Saturday and it was well worth tackling both the journey and the terrible weather to be there and see her win,” said Ann Downes.

“She’s a great jumper but a big mare and it has just taken her time to mature. She ran in a chase for the previous syndicate so we know she is well able for racecourse fences and she may next run in a hunters’ chase.”

Peter and Ann are of course breeders of the top-class novice chaser No More Heroes who is trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Gordon Elliott and holds four entries for the Festival at Cheltenham including in the Gold Cup itself. At time of writing, he tops the betting for the RSA Chase (Grade 1).