Margie McLoone

JOANNE Quirke’s domination of the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Racehorse to Riding Horse class continued in Ring 1 on Saturday afternoon when she won for the fourth time in a row and her mount, Forpadydeplasterer, brought up a hat trick.

The class ran much more smoothly than last year and, with more time for horses to settle, they behaved far better in the go-around and when lined-up for the first time.

The almost snow-white Snaefell stood out on entry to the ring under Deirdre Stephenson, and judges A.P. McCoy (ride) and Willie McCreery (conformation) had the Danehill Dancer gelding at the top of their original line-up.

He was followed by the Louise Duffy-partnered Arvika Ligeonniere (who is heading for the National Eventing Championships at Tattersalls), Princeton Plains under an ever-smiling Carolyn Harty, Forpadydeplasterer, Molly McCrory on the Northern entry Send For Paddy, Waterford’s Lois Chappell with Glantara, and Chloe Thompson with one of the older horses in the class, Mossbank.

While all entries had their supporters ringside, the only views that mattered were those of the judges. Unlike the regular show classes, the result was announced in reverse order from seventh place. Arvika Ligeonniere was called out first and with Jane Hobson and Battlehill being moved right up the order to sixth, one of the others at the top end of the line was going to be disappointed.

When Snaefell was placed second, it left just Forpadydeplaster and Send For Paddy, who beat him at Tattersalls, to be announced as winner. Quirke was delighted when her mount, a 14-year-old bay gelding by Moscow Society, brought up his hat trick, leaving McCrory and Send For Paddy’s owner/breeder Robert Armstrong, who was also groom for the day, most disappointed. As A.P. McCoy had to rush off to the airport, Willie McCreery, who was judging for the first time, commented on the class. “One of the main things that struck me was how happy the horses appeared to be in their new role. They are obviously well-loved and it’s great to see them having a second career.”

Given that there is a qualifying process for this class, as for others at the show, it’s a pity that a reserve list (as in Irish racing), isn’t in place when, as on Saturday, two horses failed to meet their engagements.