BALLINA’s Tiernan Gill had to settle for two reserve sashes at last week’s Dublin Horse Show with Flogas Liqueur but the Barnaby Flight bay claimed the titles of champion filly and champion traditionally bred young horse.

Thursday’s was a third successive class success at the RDS showgrounds for Flogas Liqueur who was exhibited here in 2015 by Ann Lyons under the name Greenhall Liqueur which, of course, gives one a good idea of her origins. She was bred in Co Wicklow by Derry Rothwell out of the Weavers’ Web mare Greenhall Last Web.

“The plan is to hold on to the filly and bring her out next year under saddle,” explained Gill. “She jumps nicely and there are plenty of options for her; I could put her in foal. Although I’ve had offers, I’ll probably hold on to all the horses I had at the show this year as they are all nice types.

“I’ve already had a look to see what foals are out there this year and will probably head over to Holland some time soon and see what’s on offer over there as I need to replenish my stock.”

Gill owns Flogas Liqueur in partnership with retired bank manager Phelim Clarke. “He is a neighbour of ours and was Dad’s best friend. He asked if he could get involved with one of the horses and the filly seemed the best bet. He’s enjoying the whole experience.”

In Thursday’s class, Flogas Liqueur finished ahead of John Cusack’s Clonaslee Loughehoe Diamond, a P.J. Tierney-bred daughter of Loughehoe Guy out of the Colin Diamond mare Gortnamona Lady.

The reserve champion traditionally-bred horse was Martin and Walsh’s The Master’s Choice, while the reserve champion filly was Hughie and Mary T. Murphy’s Barnaview Misty River, the champion yearling. Bred in Co Mayo by Ann Jennings, the grey is by Chillout out of the Porsch mare Remember The River.

“We bought her privately last year as a foal,” said the owners’ son Ian, who led up the filly.

“She has been lightly shown but was sixth in the all-Ireland. Although we are currently more involved with Draughts, the plan is to hold on to this filly as a broodmare to show.”

Others forward for the distaff title decider were the two-year-olds – Margaret Jeffares’s home-bred Ballykelly Eva, a bay by OBOS Quality 004 out of the Salluceva mare Corrib Eva, who was reserve to Assagart Lord Lancer in the Pembroke championship, and Regina Burchill’s Centre Stage bay Timpany Ruby who was bred by Paula Howard out of Slatequarry Sasha (by Ghareeb).

Dessie Gibson didn’t fare as well as expected but the Dromore exhibitor did at least finish second in the yearling fillies’ class with Calendar Girl, a bay by Aolus who P.J. Lehane bred out of the Big Sink Hope mare PJs Hope.

The reserve champion yearling was Ann Lyons’s Emir’s Flight, a flashy chesnut gelding with four white legs by Elusive Emir out of the Simba mare Cloughanover Flight. He was shown for the Ballynahinch exhibitor by Adrian Williamson.

“Willie (Ann’s husband) bought me this fellow, who we call Monty, for our 35th wedding anniversary last February,” reported Lyons. “He won his class and was reserve champion young horse at Armagh and Castlewellan before coming here and is now off to England to Jill Day.”

Clonakilty’s Declan Daly moved right up to second in this class with his home-bred Munther gelding Thunderhead who is out of the 2012 Brookfield Floating Lux mare Floating Valley.