THE 2019 sales season gets underway at Cavan next week where, selling over one day, a varied catalogue offers around 130 lots.

There are a number of smart sounding entries on offer and among them is the proven sport horse stallion Cara Touche.

Another standout lot is Delton, who was a silver medal-winning member of the Irish squad at last year’s Children on Horses European championships.

The remaining catalogue features hunters and show jumpers, as well as a sizeable collection of ponies. The smaller of the species fill nearly half of the entries, with several merited in the Premier Pony category.

Twelve months ago, this sector delivered the sale-topper, and once again there is a notable emphasis on performance, especially from the show jumping quarter.

A number of the older horses also carry proven competition or hunting form, while a smaller group of comparatively untried four-year-olds (12) will bring the day to a close.

No one sire is especially prominent but heading the numerical list with two progeny forward is the performance stallion Out Of Touch.

CATALOGUE PICKS

Lot 59 Cara Touche, 18yo br st 168cms by Touchdown out of Cara Pandora (Flagmount Diamond).The only approved son of Touchdown standing in Ireland, the well-known Cara Touche is a multiple Grand Prix show jumping winner, both in Ireland and abroad. Ridden during his career by Conor Swail, Kellie Allen and latterly young rider Conan Wright, he has competed internationally to 1.50m level. Smartly related, his dam is a half-brother to the useful Grand Prix performer Cnoc Na Seimre (1.40m) while his grandam (by First Consul) is a full-sister to the Hickstead Speed Derby specialist Castlepollard. His fertility is of the highest quality and guaranteed by the vendor.

Lot 61 Delton, reg 11yo b g 170cms. A top and proven ride for the Children on Horses classes, this experienced gelding was a European silver medallist with the Irish squad last year. He was also placed second in the COH Nations Cup in Weirden, he was bronze medallist in the COH Challenge Cup final in Opglabeek, and a three-time reserve champion for the COH at the RDS. He is quiet and easy to work with, and has recently been campaigned by an 11-year-old girl.

PREMIER PONIES

Lot 16 Tagoat Lad, reg 14yo b g 138cms. The first of the premier selection to catch the eye, Tagoat Lad is the prolific winner of 1151 SJI points to date. Formerly ridden by Mikey Pender, he was well placed at the RDS, and has jumped in many of the premier classes.

Lot 19 Annaghmore Boomahontas, reg 11yo b m 148cms by Annaghmore Boomerang out of Royal Clover (Clover Echo). This competitive grade A show jumping mare has form in classes up to 1.25m level. An honest pony, she has clocked up 248 SJI points to date.

Lot 23 Little Miss Burberry, reg 17yo gr m 148cms. This very consistent mare has jumped at all the major shows including the RDS. Competing to date, she is the winner of 850 SJI points in shows all around the country, and was placed second when competing abroad in Fontainebleau.

Lot 31 Golden Island Sparky, reg 15yo gr g 148cms by Kilmore Diamond out of Golden Beauty (Monaghanstown Fionn). A pony with a good record and the winner of the Michael Morrisey league last year, she has a career total of 399 SJI points.

PONIES

Lot 14 Arklow Lassie, reg 15yo bl m 138cms. A top-class schoolmistress from the intermediate height group, this mare is the winner of 154 SJI points. She has been competing in classes up to 1.10m level, is a proven and brave hunting pony, and is the winner of numerous hunter trials. She has been in the same home for the past seven years and is sadly for sale as she is now outgrown.

Lot 24 Shanbo Polly, reg 9yo b m 146cms by Illaunurra Lad out of Shanbo Ellie (Monaghans Town Boy). A fully registered Connemara, this mare has done it all. She has show-jumped to win 45 SJI points in classes up to 1.10m level and has competed in interschools competitions. Very versatile, she has also taken part in working hunter classes, pony club and has attended pony camp for the past two years. Described has having a lovely temperament, she is easy in every way.

Lot 29 Lurgo Lady, reg 8yo b m 149cms. This mare has carried a 10-year-old child out hunting with the South Tipperary Harriers for the past two seasons. She is also competing at unaffiliated shows and is considered suitable for any discipline.

Lot 30 Rathcoona Patricia, reg 8yo gr m 148cms by Kirrin Malachi out of Rathcoona Daisy (Coosheen Callowfeenish). A potential two-star event pony, this mare carries a very good record with numerous top-six placings (EI 100P) last season. A very good mover, she has evented with a 12-year-old girl, and was found to be brave and safe.

Lot 32 Currasilla Island, reg 7yo gr m 148cms by Meelickisland Rebel out of Currasilla Rose (Billy Compently). This Connemara mare qualified for the performance class at the RDS in 2017. She won the Connemara working hunter class at Adamstown last year, and headed the Mountain and Moorland working hunter class at the Wexford Equestrian Centre. She has also show-jumped, evented, hunter trialled and competed in dressage competitions.

Lot 40 Tom, reg 6yo gr g 143cms. The home-bred Tom is described as having a great sense of humour. A versatile, good moving pony he has hunted with the Suir Vale Harriers for the last two seasons, and is thought to have a big future in flat and working hunter classes.

HUNTERS

Lot 106 Mr Clover, reg 5yo b g 159cms by Remington Clover out of Cannonswood Miss. Possible the pick of the hunters on offer, Mr Clover has hunted with the Suir Vale Harriers for the past two years, proving capable of carrying a whipper in or a rider in the field. A pleasure to do in all ways, he is also thought to have the ability to make a smart competition prospect.

COMPETITION HORSES

Lot 62 Cahernablaughy Girl, reg 10yo sk m 152cms. This diminutive dressage mare has three good paces, and has successfully competed at elementary level, scoring 67% on her last outing. She won the preliminary class in the Cavan winter finals in 2017 scoring 73% and is currently schooling at medium level at home. She is only for sale as her rider is out of the age group and moving on to a bigger horse.

Lot 63 Derrinever Top Notch, reg 10yo gr g 158cms by Longstone Instant Appeal (dam by Seafield Fionn). A fully registered Connemara, this experienced gelding has hunted with the Co. Longford Harriers for six seasons. A real all-rounder, he has also show jumped (1.10m), hunter trialled and competed in working hunter classes. In addition, he has competed in the inter-schools at open level, has attended pony club camp and is described as safe and easy.

Lot 76 Oh Mio Dio, reg 8yo ch m 165cms by Indoctro out of Crystal Cavalier (Cavalier Royale). A well related individual with paddock potential, this mare is a full-sister to the grade A show jumper Rockmount Larry, and a half sibling to the two-star event horse SRS Orlando. She is currently jumping to 1.10m level proving to be brave and honest.

Lot 98 Ruthstown Millfall Boy, reg 6yo b g 160cms by Sibon W out of Millfall Lady (Clover Hill). The winner of 11 SJI points to date, in classes up to and including 1.10m level, this gelding has also evented. He delivered a double clear round on his only appearance under EI rules and is considered a smart prospect in either sphere. Well related, he is a half-brother the one-star event horse and former pony club open event champion Soverign Guy, while his dam is a full-sister to the useful Grand Prix show jumper Millfall Hill (1.50m).

Lot 104 Killossery Kapone, reg 5 yo b g 169cms by Out of Touch out of Killossery Kruella (Ballinavella). This lightly competed gelding is bred to perform. His dam is a half-sister to the top international Grand Prix show jumper Killossery who was the reserve horse for the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. Dam is also a half sibling to Killossery Kruisette, a winner of international classes Falsterbo and Gijon, and notably the dam of Killossery Kaiden the six-year-old gold medallist at the world breeding in Lanakan in 2016, and numerous other international jumpers and eventers.

Lot 108 GRC Gigi, reg 5yo b m 165cms by Clover Brigade out of Loughnavatta Diamond (Flagmount King) A well related, home-bred mare whose grade A show jumping dam (1.40m) won the Cavan Classic finals as a five-year-old. Now ready to produce further, she is considered to be a smart show jumping prospect.

FOUR-YEAR-OLDS

Lot 122 Unnamed, reg 4yo b f 163cms by Sligo Candy Boy out of Coevers Delight (Coevers Diamond Boy). Attractively bred, by one of last year’s top sale-topping stallions, this filly is a good mover and is jumping a course of fences under saddle. She is proving brave and careful and is thought likely to have the ability to has the potential to excel in show-jumping or eventing.

Lot 127 Drumiller Vegas, reg 4yo b g 168cms by Cardento out of Meabhs Clover (Rockhill Clover). Dam competed in RDS as a five-year-old old before being retained for breeding. Only being sold due to his rider’s injury, and initially bought to produce long term, he has all the ingredients to make a top-class showjumper.