MARK O’Hare completed a longterm double at Dromahane last Saturday when saddling his wife Sara’s Madame Masque to land the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden, a race he won 12 months previously with Spindleberry.

While that Policy Maker bay, who joined the Willie Mullins yard following her debut success, was ridden by Noel McParlan, the French-bred Madame Masque justified 2/1 favouritism on Saturday in the hands of Deckie Lavery. The Downpatrick rider was also on board the daughter of Masked Marvel when she pulled up on her first start at Kildorrery last February and when she finished third next time out at Fairyhouse in April.

O’Hare gave €35,000 for Madame Masque at the 2022 Derby Sale at Tattersalls Ireland to which she was consigned by Ballincurrig House Stud. The chesnut is out of the three-time-winning Lando mare Lady Of Soprani, a half-sister to the Grade 1 hurdle winner Shot From The Hip (by Monsun) and the dam of three track winners.

There were two point-to-points in Britain last Sunday and while horses carrying an IRE suffix won four of the seven races at both fixtures, none were bred in Northern Ireland.

WHILE there were plenty of people from Northern Ireland on the New Year Honours list, the only name which stood out with a connection to racing and equestrianism was (Sarah) Pamela Ballentine who received an MBE for charitable fundraising. Pamela, who works at both Downpatrick and Down Royal and is on the board of the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders, is better known to the wider world as a broadcaster with UTV which carried the following on the news section of its website last Saturday:-

“Northern Ireland broadcaster Pamela Ballantine has reflected on a “life-affirming” year after being made an MBE on the first anniversary of her breast cancer diagnosis. The UTV star, who is recovering from cancer after surgery and treatment, said the timing of the announcement made it that bit more poignant.

The well-known 65-year-old TV personality has been honoured with an MBE for her many years of charity fundraising with multiple different organisations. ‘I’ve been involved in getting awards for other people, I’ve been asked to help promote and nominate other people for awards, so I know this process takes years. So it’s rather lovely that it has come at the end of the year when this time last year I was told I had breast cancer. And then, in July, I was told that I don’t, which is fantastic. But I know this award hasn’t come along because I had breast cancer. It’s been a long time in the making, so it’s just so lovely that the two have married in together.

“‘While 2023 is a year for a lot of things that I’m very grateful for, it’s not exactly how I wanted my year to pan out. But I can look back on this year as being sort of very much life-changing and life-affirming and to receive this award at the end of the year is just icing on the cake.” Pamela said that the letter informing her of her inclusion on the honours list was a ‘huge shock. I was absolutely thrilled and very surprised as well’.” Those of us who have long admired Pamela’s stamina and dedication were in no way surprised that her work was so deservedly recognised. Congratulations Pamela!