A new arrival at Knockrath Stud is the Harthill Stud-owned Honour Cruise. Now an eight-year-old, the Cruising grey was originally sourced at the Cavan elite sale as a youngster by Nina Barbour and Oliver Townend. Barbour, now preparing to host the Bolesworth CSI*** International in June, and the 2009 Badminton-Burghley winner, Townend, both regard Honour Cruise as a modern event horse model.

The stallion’s all-round education began with UK-based Anthony Condon and the consistent pair clocked up double clears show jumping before the switch to Honour Cruise’s intended eventing career. In his first outing in 2012, he completed on his dressage score of 25 and had moved up to novice level by last season when the Barbara McGreal-bred recorded five top-10 placings with Townend.