THERE were a few familiar faces among those who weighed out for the Up The Yard Challenge Race for stable staff at Punchestown on Bank Holiday Monday.

The winner of the two-mile race on the flat was Aimée Morrissey who, some years back, competed for three seasons in 138cm classes under Show Jumping Ireland rules. On Monday, she partnered the 6/4 favourite Sir Gerhard, who is trained by her boss Willie Mullins for Cheveley Park Stud.

The 10-year-old Jeremy gelding, who has won three bumpers, five hurdle races and a chase, was bred on the outskirts of Kilkenny City by Keatingstown Bloodstock, the thoroughbred breeding enterprise of show jumper Susan Fitzpatrick and family.

Current and past event riders Laura Bailey, Hannah Gayer and Megan Harris were joined at the start by Aoibhinn Ruane, who is best-known for her performances on the flat and over jumps in the show ring.

Aoibhinn, who will be 20 next month, is in her second year studying Commerce at UCD. She lives in Dublin during the week, but spends every day off in the country, dividing her time between working at home and at Jim Bolger’s yard. On Monday, when making her racecourse debut, Aoibhinn rode the five-year-old Vocalised mare Fleadhfest, who is trained for his wife Jackie by Jim Bolger, who also bred the bay.