IF Rachael Dickson and her sister Janice Reddy were disappointed to see Ardnacashel Monarch finish second in the six-year-old and upwards performance Irish Draught class in the Main Arena on the Thursday of Balmoral Show, that feeling didn’t last too long.

Ridden by Emma Jackson, the eight-year-old Beechmore Silver Crest stallion was beaten in his class by the Louise Lyons-partnered Clandeboye, who is still the property of Lady Perdita Blackwood, though listed in the show catalogue under Bluegate Stud.

However, when it came to the championship, Lyons was beckoned into the reserve slot with the six-year-old Scrapman grey, while Ardnacashel Monarch took the title. The imposing grey has, to date, only covered his owners’ mares. He is being aimed at the Dublin qualifiers, as are most others in the section.

A delighted Marie Helene Finegan won the four- and five-year-old class on her own Hollyrock Danny Boy, a five-year-old Mountain Diamond gelding, who Galway’s Peter Reilly bred out of his 2003 Sea Crest mare Biggeras Crest.

In Wednesday’s ID flat classes, Lyons and Clandeboye finished third in the six-year-old and upwards class to the Sarah Russell-owned and ridden Dowdstown PJ, a seven-year-old Carrabawn Cross gelding, bred, unsurprisingly, by Co Kildare’s James Hoare out of his Crosstown Dancer mare, Dowdstown Belle.

In the championship, Russell and her chesnut stood reserve to Shannaghmore Inferno, winner of the four- and five-year-old class under Vicky Teuton. Also chesnut, this five-year-old was bred in Co Carlow by Liam O’Brien, out of the Grange Bouncer mare, Liams Lady Bouncer.