IF there was a quiet start to proceedings for the first ridden class last Saturday, the atmosphere was charged around Ring 1 in the early afternoon, as 15 of the 17 entries in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing racehorse to riding horse class came before judges Patrick Mullins (ride) and Norbert Freistedt (conformation).

The field was reduced by one almost immediately, while another horse left the ring before the serious judging process began. Horses ranged in age from two six-year-olds to the 19-year-old Raz De Maree. That chesnut gelding is much loved by his owner Jenny Murphy, who spent two Christmas Days in Chepstow with the French-bred before he ran in the Coral Welsh Grand National.

The field was split for the gallop, after which Stephanie McGlynn was beckoned forward to head the initial line-up on Mickah Wallace, who was followed by Briar Hill (Corinne Doran Ennen), A Plus Tard (Emily Kate Robinson), Bobby Cool (Miia Ruuskanen) and General Principle (Seainin Mahon). Vincent Phelan, the only male rider in the class, headed the remainder of the field on Askforbigmoney.

Well-tutored in ringcraft, if just for the day, Mullins gave each horse a fair and excellent ride, bringing them to the outside of the ring, so that all in the crowd were able to appreciate the skills in the saddle of the 16-time champion Irish amateur jockey. His face gave nothing away, but he made a note after each ride before vaulting up on to the next horse’s back and afterwards consulted with Freistedt.

From outside the ring, there was no reason to think that McGlynn and Mickah Wallace wouldn’t hold on to the top spot and so it proved, as the Co Kildare combination were directed to head the final line-up. There was, however, disappointment for Doran Ennen and Robinson, whose mounts finished outside the placings as Askforbigmoney, who is for sale, was moved up to second in front of Bobby Cool. The two greys who had been bottom of the initial line-up, Kristian Goingwel (Niamh Kelly) and Gold Bullet (Rachel Moore Rooney), finished fourth and fifth, ahead of another grey Dingle Bay (Sadhbh Gannon).

Mickah Wallace, who ran unplaced five times on the flat in 2021 when trained by Mark Cahill, is a six-year-old brown gelding by Anjaal. He was bred by Kildaragh Stud out of the Bachelor Duke mare Chic Fabric.

McGlynn is keeping him well occupied in his life off the track, as she competes with him in riding club activities, as a member of Oakleaf, while he had two outings in May under Eventing Ireland rules, finishing sixth of 19 in the EI90 (Amateur) at Rosanna, having earlier finished second of 10 in similar company at Lisgarvan House.

An emotional McGlynn, who had ridden at Dublin in the past, admitted to having been a “ball of stress” last year, when she and Mickah Wallace finished third behind Sizing John and Woodland Opera and that she had a completely different mindset on this occasion. “Patrick said that he rode beautifully and that he couldn’t have faulted him,” she said proudly of her winner.

It’s always interesting to listen to the chat around the ring and, as ever, when this class is being judged, people query why there isn’t a performance class for thoroughbreds on the programme. Then again, others wonder why a flat class for Irish Draughts isn’t on the schedule. And, just to move things along further, I was speaking to a spectator, whose accent suggested she came from the other side of the Atlantic, and she thought a western riding class would be a great addition to the show. Food for thought?