THE large crowd who gathered around the main arena at Balmoral Show on Thursday afternoon, for the racehorse to riding horse class, were probably disappointed that one of the many northern-produced horses failed to win the ITBA-sponsored event.

However, there were many positives to take from the class for the future as it was very well-supported numerically and all the horses were extremely well turned-out and well behaved in front of visiting judges, Mary Redvers (conformation) and her daughter-in-law, Laura Redvers (ride).

The first prize of £500 and an ITBA quarter sheet were presented to Co Kildare’s Lorna Murphy who always topped the line-up with Boston Bob. The 12-year-old Bob Back gelding, who last ran in April 2016 when pulling up in the Aintree Grand National, was also the choice of the less-biased spectators.

The judges were also happy to stick with their original choice for second in Co Wicklow exhibitor Alison Clancy’s Un Atout who, like the winner, was trained by Willie Mullins.

The French-bred nine-year-old, a son of Robin Des Champs, whose last racecourse appearance was in the Coral Cup at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival, warmed up for this Balmoral class by winning at the recent Northern Ireland Festival in Cavan.

CREDIT TO McCLELLAND

The best-placed northern horse was yet another former inmate of Mullins’ Closutton yard, the 18-year-old Bothar Na. Now owned by Belfast exhibitor Sarah McClelland, the chesnut Mister Lord gelding is a long time out of the racing game, his final performance coming when pulling up for the third straight time in an open at Milltown in November 2011. He looked in excellent fettle on Thursday and is a credit to his connections.nAmong those stewarding this class, which took place in brilliant sunshine, were the ITBA Northern Region chairman Denis Macauley, Downpatrick committee member Brian Polly, breeder Max Ervine and the unstoppable Terence McKeag whose role at the show covers a multitude.

Leaving the showgrounds on Thursday evening, it was a great pleasure to chance upon the affable John McGaw who says he is going to buy another horse soon and get back to the point-to-point scene - from which he has been sorely missed.

RESULTS

Balmoral Show, Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association racehorse to riding horse class

1, Lorna Murphy’s Boston Bob, 12yo b g by Bob Back – Bavaway, by Le Bavard, bd Burgage Stud;

2, Alison Clancy’s Un Atout, 9yo br g by Robin Des Champs – Badrapette, by Bad Conduct, bd Dominique Claveaux;

3, Sarah McClelland’s Bothar Na, 18yo ch g by Mister Lord – Country Course, by Crash Course, bd Michael Conlon;

4, Kelly Kidd’s The Waffler, 16yo b g by Humbel – Coole Jasmine, by Good Thyne, bd Larry Murphy;

5, Christopher Gibson’s Prince De Beauchene, 14yo b g by French Glory – Chipie D’Angron, by Grand Tresor, bd Raymond Bellanger