“She cut it fine!” said the Ballynahinch man in reference to the five-year-old’s rider, his neighbour Jemma Parkhill, who got the chesnut home clear in 169.18, just inside the optimum time of 170 seconds.

“This is a very correct mare,” said Patterson of Drumnaconnell Beach Babe who is by Beach Ball out of the 2000 Aldato mare Glenross ISHD who, unfortunately, suffered an injury before she could be competitively jumped by the Army. The dam’s three-year-old by Harlequin du Carel is currently being broken.