“NO seller’s remorse, he couldn’t have gone to better people,” said Seamus Lehane after Ballard Highway Lad won the coveted All-Ireland three-year-old final at Bannow and Rathangan for his new owner, John Burchill.

15 three-year-olds lined out for visiting UK judge Rebecca Curtis and John Lenihan, and it was Skibbereen man Burchill who topped the final line-up with the brown gelding bred in Killucan, Co Westmeath by Michael Carey. He had bought the Another Pleasure son from fellow West Cork exhibitor Lehane last year for daughter Deirdre to produce under saddle next year.

The Newell family’s early start from Claregalway paid off when their home-bred Kilcahill Ruby, the 2023 All-Ireland filly foal champion at Moate, was brought in next.

A reigning Limerick Lady titleholder too, the Financial Reward bay was also the top-placed filly in this Bannow Show and Galway Crystal/Belleek Living-sponsored final.

In third place was Trevor Horgan, who won the 1995 Galway Plate on Life Of A Lord, with Dudley Tom, a HHS Cornet gelding, bred by Charlotte Greene.

“The last horse we bought from Seamus - Ballard Bridge Boy - was very lucky for us,” said Deirdre.

See full Bannow report on pages 80-81.