Oliver Townend was competing in Maryland, Bertram Allen was between shows in Beijing and Riyadh, yet they still found time to sing the praises of Ballaghmor Class and Pacino Amiro, the top Irish Sport Horses in this year’s World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) rankings. And for Carol Hickey and Simon Scott, their dream story continues.

“It’s still going on, isn’t it? This story about a horse born in a barn behind a thatched cottage, bred by a Clareman living in Co Limerick. And come on the Banner! What a great result for the other two Banner breeders too [Noel Russell and Gerard Lynch] in the top-six,” said Carol, whose late father Noel bred Ballaghmor Class.