Young Horse classes

Dublin is renowned as a great shop window for those that may be on the lookout for a possible star. This year once again, those who came for that purpose had plenty of choice as the young horse classes demonstrated the scope of our rising stars.

On Saturday the first of the championships took place, starting with the Horse Sport Ireland four-year-old Mo Chroi Championship. Taking the win was Jessica Burke riding Lux a Special Lady when awarded a score of 76 by judges William Funnell and Louis Alvarez Cervera. Bred by Des Judge and Patrick Walsh the mare is by Lux Z out of the Collie More Hill-sired mare Aishling Clover.

She is a full sister to Special Lux, a former winner of the five-year-old championships in Dublin, who went on to be bought by Billy Twomey - she jumped on the continent with much success. Speaking after the class, Burke said:“the plan is to take a few embryo’s from the mare and possibly use Luidam or Air Jordan Z.”

Liam O’ Meara may have got jumped out of the saddle by Legaland Team Spirit but the judges overlooked this unexpected manoeuvre and awarded a score of 68 points for second place, ahead of Sophie Richards riding Maurice Cousins’ Luxie B on a score of 64.75.

People could be forgiven for thinking the James Hogg and Drumiller Dynamic were sure to win the final, having won the two qualifying rounds, but despite this good performance they took fourth place in the final, finishing on a score of 63.75. Bred by Paul Dillon, the mare is by Plot Blue out of Revelene.

Horses were put through their paces by International riders Bertram Allen and Mark McAuley. For both riders they considered that all young horses should have a good brain, be careful and that rideability was very important.

Judge Luis Alvarez Cervera also spoke highly of the Irish horse. He worked with Iris Kellett in the 1960’s and said then that Irish horses where the best in the world and that they were great at many different sports and levels. He complimented Irish breeders for adapting their breeding lines to meet new demands. For him, like the riders he advised breeders to use mares that have performed and from good lines that are careful and have plenty of scope.

William Funnell was also full of praise for the Irish horse, stating that much of his breeding lines go back to a stock of good Irish mares.

Five-year-olds

On Sunday morning, Darragh Ryan and BP First Editions took the five-year-old Flexible National Championship. This combination showed great form having won the first five-year-old qualifier. The David Cullen and Ronan Rothwell owned BP First Editions was bred by the Broderick family in Ballypatrick. The mare is by Verdi out of Greg Broderick’s former national Grand Prix mare Ballypatrick Flight, bred by Ita Brennan.

Second place went to Derek McConnell riding Sorcha Hennessy’s big striding Dothraki Warlord, ahead of Mikey Pender riding Marion Hughes’ HHS Catwalk who was fastest of the four faulters.

Six-year-olds

Jessica Burke collected her second win with Castlelawn Captain Junior in the Cruising Six-year-old Championship. This combination had also won the first qualifier. Owned by Gabriel Slattery, the Captain Clover-sired stallion was bred by Elizabeth Gallagher and is out of her Diamond Lad-mare Diroe. This stallion boasts Irish breeding lines going back to the Clover Hill.

He has proved very consistent in this career both on the national and international circuit. As a five-year-old he took fifth place in Lanaken in the consolation class. Speaking after the class, Burke was full of praise, saying: “He had plenty of scope and a great temperament for the job.” She added that he is very popular as a stallion and that he is well suited to the blood brood mares that are now popular in the show jumping world”.

Kevin Gallagher and Kilarado placed second, ahead of Jenny Rankin and Sea Topblue who also jumped clear for third.

Ballypatrick Stables showed great form with Darragh Ryan partnering Gretchen Biedron’s Boleybawn Actor into fourth place. This combination won the first six-year-old qualifier on Wednesday, when almost three seconds faster than his closest rival. Bred by Ronan Rothwell, this gelding is by Ars Vivendi out of Air Jordan sire mare, Arina. The mare is well related with the breeding line going back to the great jumping legend Ratina Z. Owned by Boleybawn Stud, the mare has offspring by Cruisings Micky Finn, Eurocommerce Valiant and three by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet.

Seven/eight-year-olds

Victory in the Connolly’s Redmills seven/eight-year-olds Championship went to Dutch rider Frank Schuttert riding Beautiful Red. An eight-year-old mare by Casall and owned by Ashford Farm and Jos Lansink.

The partnership delivered the fastest clear round in a 10-horse jump-off . In second place was Ger O’Neill and Castlefield Vegas. This combination had also taken the win in the first qualifier. Bred by John Clarke, Castlefield Vegas is by Cassino out of the Lux Z-sired mare Clarke’s Quiet Optimistic. Clarke also bred two full brothers to Castlefield Vegas and two half brothers who are by Sirillio.

Third place went to another Irish rider in Philip McGuane with Judas vd Donkhoeve. Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Christos finished fourth, just ahead of Bertram Allen in fifth with Calafrieda. This combination had won the second round of the qualifiers.