The former, a 2003 daughter of Touchdown, is on the British Young Riders’ show jumping squad, won a silver medal in Europe and recently landed the Grand Prix at the Blue Chip Championships under 19-year-old Chloe Winchester. The year older Radolin gelding Avoca Alibi, who is evented at three-star level by William Fox-Pitt, may appear at Tattersalls next month.

Both horses were broken and produced by Luke Drea at Ballyellen Equestrian Centre, with the rider taking Avoca Valkyrie to Grand Prix level. Luke is currently eventing the 2008 gelding Avoca Druid (by Kings Master) while the mare’s other progeny are competing successfully in Britain, the USA and Austria.

Bred by Bryan Maguire in Ballycanew, Co Wexford, the 1996 mare Knockanree Nell didn’t have far to travel to owner Christine Banks of Avoca Sport Horses.

“We got her as a three-year-old to compete but she contracted a virus that attacked her central nervous system and spent weeks in hospital where it was touch-and-go if she’d recover,” says Christine. “They sent her home saying ‘put her in the field and give her time’. She was totally uncoordinated but, a few weeks later, jumped a six-bar gate and never looked back.

“Nell is by Frankfort Boy out of a Golden Trump mare and has Sky Boy, Clover Hill and King of Diamonds in her pedigree,” continues the Co Wicklow breeder. “She is a wonderful example of the best of Irish bloodlines and, because she had been through so much, we decided to breed from her after she got the all-clear from the vets.”

At home in Avoca, Nell is due to foal any day to Kings Master while youngstock by Puissance and Jack of Diamonds are waiting in the wings.

“We are only a small operation,” says Christine. “We like to produce the foals we breed and enjoy following their careers even when it’s nerve-wracking! Our three-star eventer Avoca Feile (by High Roller) is due her first foal by the thoroughbred Golden Master. Both Nell and Feile have given us many memorable moments, so long may it continue.”