WHILE Dungarvan’s Gemma Phelan was jumping at the Tipperary Equestrian Centre on Sunday, one of the thoroughbreds she bred, Country Mile, was winning at Uttoxeter.

Trained by Dan Skelton, whose brother Harry was in the saddle, the seven-year-old Ocovango gelding justified 4/11 favouritism by six lengths in the opening two-mile beginners’ chase. This first chasing success on his third start over fences marked the bay’s fourth career victory, following a win on his sole run in a bumper and two wins from four outings over hurdles.

Country Mile is the third of four thoroughbred foals out of Uncatchable, who Gemma purchased from Dot Love. In 2023, that Catcher In The Rye mare produced a colt from the first crop of Phelan’s own Irish Sport Horse stallion Vicarstown (Luidam - Flower E, by Darco). “He’s a lovely big horse,” said the Beechfield Stables owner. “I’ve done nothing with him yet, but he’ll be coming in shortly.”

Also from Co Waterford and a top-class show jumper in his pony days, Mark Beecher saddled two winners at the Foxfield Fall Races meeting in Charlottesville, Virginia on Sunday, while earlier on the same day, Aine Connolly, who represented Ireland at the 2022 and 2023 European pony eventing championships, rode her first winner at The Curragh, when landing the mile and a half lady amateurs’ handicap on the Anthony McCann-trained Whimsy.