THE Seainin Mahon-owned and ridden General Principle had only won one class prior to Dublin but peaked at the right time last Saturday when he landed the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing racehorse to riding horse class at the Dublin Horse Show.

The crowd started gathering around Ring 1 as judging of the stinted mare class commenced and was about five deep by the time the 16 former track performers forward (from an entry of 17) appeared before judges Nina Carberry (ride) and Henrietta Knight (conformation).

The vast majority of the field behaved well during the go-around where Ted O’Leary, a member of Ireland’s silver medal-winning team at the European Junior eventing championships, showed signs of a racing career ahead as, on board the dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll, he gave the inside to no one.

Riders were asked to just show lengthened strides rather than gallop after which, disappointingly, and particularly so for those doing the public judging competition on the class, there was no formal first line-up with riders asked to come into the centre of the ring in random order. While Knight is well-used to judging, this was a new experience for Carberry who gave each horse a very fair ride.

It was no surprise to hear Mahon and General Principle being announced as winners, as they were very much pre-class favourites, but Allison Matthews was absolutely delighted to be called forward into second place on the 16-year-old Brian Boru gelding Tadhg, who won two hurdle races, while Tiger Roll finished in third place.

Mahon, who works for Gordon Elliott, former trainer for Gigginstown House Stud of both General Principle and Tiger Roll, is extremely grateful to the Co Meath handler and the O’Learys for allowing her take ownership of 13-year-old Gold Well gelding who she looked after when he was in training. The bay’s track record of five wins included the 2018 running of the BoyneSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse and he last ran in late November 2020.

Since switching careers, General Principle has been stabled at Amy Parsons’ Foxley Stables where he has been on a feeding regime by Bluegrass Horse Feeds.

Mahon has kept friends, family and fans up-to-date with news of the gelding’s progress in his transition to a riding horse with a dedicated Facebook page General Principle’s Road to RDS. Anyone thinking of taking on a retired racehorse should check it out.

You can read more about Seainin and General Principle in the View From Above column (on page 15 of the racing section).