ÓRLA Roche and her husband Pat Peare are delighted to announce that, following their recent appeal in these pages, sponsorship has been found for next year’s thoroughbred series at their Wexford Equestrian Centre in Tomhaggard.

Coming on board as title sponsor for the league and final is the Swedish equine supplements company NutriScience whose Irish agent is Wexford-based former National Hunt jockey Padge Whelan who rode in Ireland, Britain and the US before retiring in 2009.

There has also been support for the series from trainers such as Henry de Bromhead, Colin Bowe, Paul Nolan, David Marnane, Willie McCreery, Denis Hickey and Piece Power. The last-named, in partnership with his sister Helen, owned the 2018 league winner Test Pilot, a 2012 Getaway gelding who ran four times without success when trained by Jonjo O’Neill in 2016 and 2017.

Following his victory in the league, which that year was sponsored by Willie Mullins, Test Pilot was sold to top British event rider Izzy Taylor.

The league organisers have also been pledged financial support from the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Caoimhe Doherty, Tom Howley Equine, Labstock Mircoservices Ltd, Racing Post, Diana Cooper and Richard Pugh of p2p.ie, while the Irish Horse Welfare Trust is continuing its support of the final.

“The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association is delighted to support Wexford Equestrian’s 2020 thoroughbred competition horse class,” said the Association’s chief executive officer, Shane O’Dwyer.

“The ITBA encourages responsible ownership and any options which assist horses from becoming unwanted or neglected are to be welcomed. This initiative provides an excellent opportunity for thoroughbred owners/ breeders who are looking for an alternative use for their horses and I look forward to help maximising the number of entries for the class.”

Staged as part of Wexford Equestrian Centre’s popular Stepping Stones to Success league for young event horses, the thoroughbred series is open to raced and unraced horses of any age.

In a change to the previous format, the thoroughbreds next year will do a regular dressage test at intro level indoors and then take on the challenge of show jumps and cross-country fences in the outdoor arenas where the scores will be decided on jumping faults alone with no assessment by a judge.

Full details of the competition are available on the website (www.steppingstonestosuccess.ie) or by contacting Roche on 086-3902309.

Please note that changes have been made to the original schedule with the qualifiers now taking place on April 1st, 8th and 15th (all Wednesdays), also Tuesday, April 21st (viewing day). Finals day will be on Tuesday, April 28th.