BRITAIN’s Michelle Underwood, who is referee judge at next week’s Gallagher Dublin Horse Show, will be double-jobbing early next Thursday afternoon as she is ride judge for the ladies’ side-saddle class in Ring 2 where she will be joined by Ann Bassett (conformation).

As all combinations had to qualify for this class on the show’s invariably busy and noisy ladies’ day, it’s difficult to select any one for special mention. However, there will be huge interest from beyond the showing world in the performance of the Charleville qualifier A Plus Tard.

Ridden for Cheveley Park Stud by Emily Kate Robinson, this 12-year-old French-bred gelding by Kapgarde won the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup when trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore. He also won the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing racehorse to riding horse class here last year in the hands of Robinson under whom he has earned 69 Dressage Ireland points.

Intermediate

Britain’s Zara Owen has the sole duty of judging the intermediate side-saddle class in Ring 1 next Sunday afternoon as the 2026 Gallagher Dublin Horse Show draws to a close.

Katie Crozier, who won this class last August on her own Darrowby Cougar, qualified in Athlone on Sarah Carlile’s Irish Draught mare Altona Sly Mist Bouncer, a seven-year-old daughter of Killinick Bouncer.

Stephanie Moore, who finished third here a year ago with Dynamite Replay, qualified at Armagh on Katelyn O’Driscoll’s five-year-old Chillout gelding Carravilla Enough Said who, like the majority of animals in this class holds a second entry at the show.

One rider who couldn’t even compete in the 2025 qualifiers as she wasn’t old enough is Co Meath’s Clara Cully who will be delighted to even start on Sunday with the Armagh qualifier P.I.O., a 14-year-old Connemara gelding by Celtic Moy Sailor who is owned by the rider’s parents Maurice and Buddy Cully.