HEATHER Graham, who was assistant society steward at the one-day event in Knockany on Saturday, took a particularly close interest in the EI90 class.

It’s not that she suspected anything untoward was happening, rather she had purchased the winner, Flush Hill Fendi, in partnership with her daughter-in-law, Kathryn, who rode the six-year-old to complete on his excellent dressage score of 19.8 penalties.

Kathryn (née Moore) is married to Heather’s son Richard and the couple are parents to 14-month-old Harry. In March, while contemplating her return to the saddle, Kathryn and Heather came across Flush Hill Fendi (better known as Boris) and purchased him from Fiona Sheridan, equestrian manager at the RDS.

Saturday’s winner is by the Irish Sport Horse sire Chillout (by Abdullah) who stands with the Sheridan family in Co Mayo. He was bred in Ballindine by the late Liam Corr and Fiona still has his three-year-old full-sister. She is chesnut like Boris, a colour they have in common with Kathryn’s former ride good, Ladakhas Guy.

Kathryn and Boris were competing under Eventing Ireland rules for just the third time on Saturday and that looks like being it for the season. The gelding, who is kept with Heather at Flush Hill Equestrian in Drumbo, will probably do show jumping and dressage over the winter.

It has been a great few weeks for Chillout’s offspring. Paul Tapner and Bonza King Of Rogues (a 2003 gelding out of a Paddy’s Birthday mare) won the Open Intermediate at Gatcombe Park earlier this month with a dressage of score of 28 and a double clear. This followed an excellent performance at Blair Castle where they finished third in the CIC***.

Swallow Springs (a 2008 gelding out of a Cult Hero mare) was third in the CIC*** for eight and nine-year-olds at Blenheim Castle, under Andrew Nicholson, while Oliver Townend finished sixth in the CCI* at Blair Castle with Shearwater Sportsfield, a 2009 gelding Fiona bred out of an Alderbrook mare.