PARDON My French is a tall, eye-catching chesnut by the thoroughbred French Buffet. The six-year-old is produced and ridden by Elizabeth Power for Judith Long who, working in corporate banking for BNP Paribas, keeps her horses as a hobby.

“This is the first horse I’ve owned that I haven’t ridden myself and I’m more nervous than I ever was!” said Long who purchased Pardon My French as a four-year-old from his Co Galway breeder, Gerry Broderick.