THERE were a few equestrian-related winners on the racecourse over the immediate post-Christmas period with the opening two and a half-mile maiden hurdle at Down Royal’s Boxing Day meeting going to the once previously-raced Sept Etoiles.

The first of 18 winners over the same time frame for trainer Gordon Elliott and the first of five for jockey Sam Ewing, the 2021 French-bred gelding is owned by Pat Sloan whose colours were also carried to victory on the same day in the opening two-mile novices’ hurdle at Market Rasen by the Nicky Richards-trained, Danny McMenamin-ridden Japetus.

Sept Etoiles, a Doctor Dino chesnut, was purchased for the Sloans by Kevin Ross Bloodstock at the 2024 Goffs Arkle Sale for €150,000 while the 2021 Sea The Moon gelding Japetus was knocked down for 50,000gns at the 2024 Guineas Horses In Training Sale at Tattersalls Newmarket to the family’s Sycamore Horse Farm.

Also at Down Royal, the hunters’ chase was landed by the J.P. McManus-owned, Emmet Mullins-trained, Derek O’Connor-partnered Its On The Line who won the same race in 2023 but had to settle for second in 2024.

The winner of three point-to-points and nine hunters’ chases (including the last three runnings of the Champion Hunters’ Chase at the Punchestown Festival), the 2017 Presenting gelding was bred in Co Wexford by well-known sport horse breeder/producer John Roche and his wife Catherine.

Also on St Stephen’s Day, the near two-mile mares’ novices’ hurdle at Wincanton was won by the Josh Newman-ridden Lau And Shaz. The 2020 Kayf Tara bay is trained by one-time British event rider Kayley Woollacott and was bred out of an unraced Robin Des Champs mare from the family of Simonsig by Virginia McGrath who represented Ireland in eventing at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.

Jump forward to Sunday and, staying across the Irish Sea, to Catterick where the near two-mile novices’ handicap chase was won by the 2020 Order Of St George gelding Supreme George who was bred by former show jumper Danielle McSorley.

Leopardstown

On the same afternoon at Leopardstown, the final three races on the seven-race card had an equestrian connection, starting in the day’s second Grade 1 race, the extended three-mile Savills Chase which was won by the Noel Meade-trained, Sam Ewing-ridden Affordable Fury. Owned by Philip Polly, the 2018 Affinisea gelding was bred by Deirdre Connolly, owner/breeder of Sarah Ennis’s 3* ride OnceUponATime.

The following near three-mile Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Qualifier went the way of another Order Of St George gelding, the Hugh Horgan-ridden Duke Silver who was sent off at odds of 25/1.

The 2020 bay is trained for owner/breeder Sarah O’Brien by her brother Joseph both of whom represented Ireland at the European pony eventing championships on the great Ice Cool Bailey, Joseph winning individual bronze in 2009 with Sarah doing so the following year.

The concluding bumper was won by the racecourse debutant Bentraghhill. Trained by Willie Mullins, the 2021 Getaway gelding was partnered by leading amateur show jumper Jody Townend. The bay was previously in the care of former international event rider Stuart Crawford who saddled the newcomer New Times Toes (another Order Of St George gelding) to finish second to Bentraghhill.

Third there on the 6/5 favourite Lemmy Caution, a 2021 French-bred gelding, Josh Williamson, a member of Ireland’s gold medal-winning team at the 2022 European pony eventing championships, partnered Gordon Elliott’s final Christmas winner when landing the concluding bumper at Leopardstown on Monday on another French-bred gelding, the 2020 bay Keep Him Company.

Elliott’s day got off to a winning start at Limerick where the 2019 Getaway gelding Last Round won the opening maiden hunters’ chase under Josh Halford who briefly returned to the international show jumping scene at Mullingar in late May.

Also from the world of coloured poles, the Grade 1 Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on Monday was won by the Dale Adams-bred 2020 Walk In The Park gelding No Drama This End.