AS has become the norm, a huge crowd gathered around Ring 1 early on Saturday afternoon as Jessica Harrington (conformation) and Paul Carberry (ride) set about judging the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing racehorse to riding horse class.

Competitors were given a bit more time to settle their horses this year and they did get to show them on both reins. With such a large entry (18) however, it was difficult to get some room and the Katie Walsh-ridden Thousand Stars, a newcomer to the show ring, looked a bit small compared to his rivals. Among those who came to see the grey was Dick Dowling who used to ‘do’ the horse at Willie Mullins’s Closutton yard.

The judges had Alison Clancy and Un Atout at the top of their original line-up followed by Rubi Light and Gigginstown House Stud’s First Lieutenant. While the first two held on to their spots after the ride and conformation phases, First Lieutenant dropped out of contention to be replaced by Rachel Ferres with her nine-year-old Philanthropist gelding Nanaimo.

Un Atout, who finished second at Balmoral in May to Boston Bob (down the line here under a disappointed Lorna Murphy) and won the Irish Horse Welfare Trust Thoroughbred Club final at Tattersalls July Show, was ridden by Alison Clancy who couldn’t disguise her delight when on the horse or on foot.

She was supported by Richard Collins who too is looking forward to bringing the nine-year-old Robin des Champs gelding to Aintree for this coming week’s Retraining of Racehorses national championships. When trained by Willie Mullins for Gigginstown House Stud, the French-bred gelding won a bumper and three hurdle races including the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in 2013. He last ran at Cheltenham in March 2015.

Joanne Quirke, who won this class in 2013 with Cooldine and, in the three years since , on Forpadydeplasterer, didn’t compete on this occasion, handing over the ride on Rubi Light to Roisin Fitzpatrick who helps out at Quirke’s Ashbourne yard at weekends and during her holidays.

Disappointingly for the sponsors, this Network gelding was also bred in France where he ran on a few occasions (winning once in a four-year-old chase) before joining Robbie Hennessy’s Co Meath Yard. From there, Rubi Light won eight more races including the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in December 2011. The now 12-year-old Rubi Light last ran in March 2016.

Among those watching the class with interest was Willie Mullins who trained six of the entries.