GAIN Horse Feeds’ sponsorship of the mares’ championship at Ballynoe stretches back to 1988 and in 1994 the race was won by the Le Moss bay Seeandbeseen who was partnered by Michael Phillips. Champion senior rider that year, and the following season, Phillips was reminded of his victory at that United Hunt fixture last Sunday when the names of all previous winners of the championship were printed in the racecard. Phillips attended the meeting as business manager with Gain along with Henry Corbally, chairman of the feed firm’s parent company, Glanbia. Both wore Gain jackets with Henry also sporting a Horse Sport Ireland cap.

“It was a really good race and Ciaran Fennessy gave the winner a great ride,” commented Phillips. “Thegirlfrommilan looked beaten four out but Ciaran stayed at it and the mare got up to win well at the end.” The six-year-old’s three-length success over another similarly-aged daughter of Milan, Goodthynemilan, earned connections a bonus of €3,000 equally contributed to by Gain and the Ballynoe point-to-point committee.