AS has become the norm, a huge crowd gathered around Ring 1 early on Saturday afternoon as Jessica Harrington (conformation) and Paul Carberry (ride) set about judging the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing racehorse to riding horse class.

Competitors were given a bit more time to settle their horses this year and they did get to show them on both reins. With such a large entry (18) however, it was difficult to get some room and the Katie Walsh-ridden Thousand Stars, a newcomer to the show ring, looked a bit small compared to his rivals. Among those who came to see the grey was Dick Dowling who used to ‘do’ the horse at Willie Mullins’s Closutton yard.