HAVING done a season’s hunting with his owner, Fionnuala Lennon who has just stepped down as a joint-Master of the Kilkenny Foxhounds, the Irish Draught gelding Tallyho McGuire is back under side saddle in the show ring.

The Irish Draught gelding finished fourth in the ladies’ class under Hazel Valentine at Dublin last August and the combination is set to return to the Ballsbridge ring next month having won the RDS qualifier at the Flavours of Fingal County Show last Saturday. This year, the flashy chesnut with four white legs and a big blaze won on the flat with his owner at the Riding Club Festival and was reserve working hunter champion at the Limerick Harriers’ Show.

Saturday’s Rob Hoban-sponsored class was judged by Jennifer Byrne (ride) and Suzanne Garrigan (conformation) who originally had Tallyho McGuire standing second to another chesnut, the David Sloan-owned and bred Lislap Benedict gelding Drumlane Golden Boy, but swapped the pair around for their final line-up.

The five-year-old runner-up, who didn’t arrive back for the championship which was won by Tallyho McGuire, was ridden by Joanne Quirke as his producer Rachel Moore Rooney is pregnant and not riding at shows. The third RDS ticket went to the seven-year-old gelding Lordhill who is ridden by Rachel Martin for owner Mary Davoren O’Regan.

The Intermediate qualifier was won by the Graham Kenny-owned, Abigail Kenny-ridden Connemara gelding Hogan The Brave, an Avril Hobson-bred seven-year-old grey by Silver Shadow. The other tickets went to the more-locally produced 20-year-old gelding Garveys Joy (Kate Horgan), who is no stranger to Dublin, and Aoife Flynn-partnered 11-year-old gelding Rock Houdini.