NOT everyone would chose to have their horse make their showing debut in the main arena at Balmoral Park during one of the busiest shows of the year, but Lorna Murphy’s Boston Bob did just that, successfully, last Thursday afternoon in the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association racehorse to riding horse class.

The 12-year-old Bob Back gelding, who won 10 races on the track including three Grade 1 chases, was trained by Willie Mullins for whom Murphy used to work fulltime until about two and a half years ago. Now a trainee with Beauchamps Solicitors, she continues to ride out for the Co Carlow trainer at weekends and managed to secure Boston Bob at the end of his racing career, having had her eye on him for the show ring.

“I was so elated at him winning that I couldn’t talk to anyone afterwards!” said Murphy whose riding CV includes a win in a point-to-point and one in an amateur flat race on the track.

“I keep Bob and one of my Connemaras at my home in Sallins but have others with my mother back in Galway. I get a train in and out of work each day so now, with so much daylight, I have plenty of time to ride the two.

“As I have to get the Connies out, Bob won’t have a hectic schedule. The ultimate aim is, of course, Dublin and I might take in Tatts show along the way. After that, and depending on how he is, we’ll think about autumn hunting. I thought the ride judge (Laura Redvers) did a great job. She was a lovely rider and gave each and every horse the same time. Her mother-in-law (Mary Redvers, conformation judge) had plenty of tips to give.”

Amazingly, the next two horses in the final line-up were also once residents in Mullins’s Closutton Stables, Alison Clancy finishing second on the nine-year-old Robin Des Champs gelding Un Atout, and Sarah McClelland placing third with the 18-year-old Mister Lord gelding Bothar Na. The result of this class was covered in detail in last week’s paper.