THE six-year-old ‘Cruising’ National Championship promises to be an exciting contest following hard fought qualifiers earlier in the summer and some of the best names have made it through to the RDS.

The standout winner of the first qualifier in The Meadows was Noel Cawley’s Lissadell with Ethen Ahearne, the pair who also won the five-year-old Cavan Classic at the end of 2020. However, with Ahearne out of action due to an injury, his Ballypatrick colleague Kevin Gallagher takes over the reins in Dublin and they had a good outing in CoilOg last month when clear in the six-year-old qualifier.

By Plot Blue, Lissadell is out of Winter Cruise, the same dam as the five-year-old winner on the same day (Go Lightly).

Adam Carey took the top-spot in the division at the second qualifier in Barnadown with Luicruz. By Luidam, this mare is out of All Cruz, by Puissance.

Orla Cassidy’s Whitetree Endeavour dominated at the third qualifier in Barnadown. By Vancouver, out of Mig (Telling Tales) this mare was bred by Tena Kenny-Murray and was ridden to victory by Cassidy herself.

Another horse that impressed in Wexford was BP Fandango, a gelding by Elvis Ter Putte out of Galwaybay Wandas (VDL Arkansas). Bred by Greg Broderick’s GBBS Ltd, he took the runner-up spot for rider Abigail Boland.

Seaview Demonstration (FSS Corelli Bravo x Castlelawn Galloway) and Alan O’Regan also deserve a mention. Winners of the prestigious six-year-old Irish Sport Horse studbook finals at the end of July, they have earned their place on the list of strong contenders.

Runner-up, Sven Hadley’s stallion HSH Harper Du Seigneur, also merits a mention. By Aganix Du Seigneur, he is out of Covers Chip (Chippison) and has supplied consistent top 10 results at both 1.20m and 1.30m over the past few months.

Much Loved, a mare by Luidam, is another that has produced consistently good results through her five- and six-year-old years and with the very experienced Francis Connors in the saddle she can’t be discounted.

The talented young rider Robyn Moran has two in competition; Fortside Trend (Future Trend x Landino), who earned several top-five placings in the qualifiers for the sport horse classes as well as the RDS qualifier, and Fortside Clever Candy (Sligo Candy Boy x Lux Z) who has adjusted well to the promotion up to 1.30m and has delivered plenty of clear rounds.

The final takes place in the main arena at 11.25am on Sunday morning with 38 starters.