THERE is an increasing number of ex-racehorses competing under Dressage Ireland rules these days and a video posted on Instagram last week by ITV Racing presenter Alice Plunkett, who is married to leading event rider William Fox-Pitt, should have more people checking out thoroughbreds for the discipline.

Taken in the centre of Cheltenham racecourse early last Thursday week, the clip shows the Willie Mullins-trained Blackbow “strutting his stuff” ahead of that afternoon’s Grade 1 Marsh Novices’ Chase.

We weren’t surprised to learn that partnering the dark bay in his morning’s exercise was Jason Deer who mixes working at Mullins’ Closutton yard, producing his own sport horses and eventers and being an equine massage and rehabilitation therapist.

Although Blackbow finished a disappointing sixth of eight in that two and a half-mile race, we wouldn’t expect to see him being ridden in a Preliminary test any time soon.

The eight-year-old was one of four winners at the Festival for the deceased stallion Stowaway whose thoroughbred son Castle North was crowned supreme champion young horse at the 2014 Dublin Horse Show where he was exhibited by Co Down’s John Donaghy as Northern Image.