Side saddle

SUZANNE O’Brien, who won the ladies’ side saddle class at last year’s Dublin Horse Show with Prince Of Diamonds won’t be riding sideways in Ring 1 next Thursday – Ladies Day at the Ballsbridge show grounds.

Now in the ownership of Helen Cooke, the Carrick Diamond Lad gelding hasn’t been entered for next week’s Dublin 4 equine extravaganza but is clearly on form having won his lightweight class and the hunter championship at Nugentstown last Saturday under Joanne Quirke.

O’Brien’s sister Lyndsey will bid to uphold the family’s honour in the side saddle class, for which entries have to qualify, with her Irish Draught gelding Creevaghstables Mr Bloomfield, on whom she placed fifth last year.

This combination was second at Balmoral in May and qualified twice for the amateur division of the Red Mills finals. However, the seven-year-old Gortfree Hero grey and his rider will face some strong opposition.

Rachel Moore, who was second 12 months ago on Drumlane Tall Order, has also qualified her seven-year-old Mermus R gelding Ballymacbrennan Merdios on whom she won the five and six-year-old lightweight working hunter class here last August. Ciara Mullen rides her mother Rufina’s Ballarin For Joy who topped the final line-up in the side saddle class at the Tattersalls July Show.

Among those who qualified for this class at Armagh was Becky Rafter who, following the retirement of Roanwood Mick Dundee, has found herself a smart and versatile replacement in the six-year-old Pollux de Muze gelding Cal Master de Muze. Good friends Clara Fleming and Cindy Wagner qualified the Irish Draught geldings Paddington Himself and Bishopshall Sparky at the Flavours of Fingal Show.

Michaela Bowling (ride) and Jenny Banks (conformation) are to judge the ladies’ class with Bowling on her own taking charge of Sunday’s Intermediate class where Jessica Murphy will again ride last year’s winner, her mother Melissa’s 11-year-old French-bred gelding Darcy de Chanteloube. Here, Mullen will partner Chantilly On The Rocks for her new owner, Rosella Hagan.