As well as the ice-cream melting temperatures we’ve been enjoying these last couple of weeks, there’s also been plenty of Irish horse news to warm the cockles of the heart.

Whatever your level of interest in horse racing, you’d have to be made of tough stuff not to find joy in the gathering of over 800 people who enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of racehorse trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s yard in Muine Bheag on Saturday.

Families and racing fans alike enjoyed an up-close meeting with Hanlon’s superstar racehorse Hewick, the American Grand National-winning horse famously bought for only €850.

This was just one of a series of family-friendly open mornings taking place throughout the summer in conjunction with Horse Racing Ireland’s Ownership Division, giving horse lovers, racing enthusiasts or just the curious a look at life on the yard of some of our greatest trainers and most exciting racehorses.

For more open morning dates and to register visit you can visit racehorseownership.ie

Debut one-day event

The recent Clonmahon House debut one-day event, staged by top international event rider Michael McNally Jr, was welcomed with huge enthusiasm by all who attended. McNally has spent over two years developing this exciting new facility for eventers.

Whatever way you define success in an event course, this one has it all – world-class fences with safety a priority meant there were no fallers and even the aesthetics were perfection, with fresh flowers at every fence.

The show jumping tracks were expertly designed by Frankfort Stud’s Will Kearney and the well-watered cross-country had challenging courses designed beautifully by Dereck Hamilton and Ray Doyle.

McNally plans to explore future national and international fixtures with Eventing Ireland. The future is looking thrilling for Irish eventers.

Double Grand Prix

On Sunday evening, Irish riders claimed victory in CSI3* Grand Prix on both sides of the Atlantic. The first win came for Billy Twomey riding the 15-year-old stallion Chat Botte ED in the 1.55m Grand Prix in Bolesworth.

The second came for Shane Sweetnam in the 1.50m CSI3* in Lexington, riding Gilona AO.

Perfect score

Last but no means least, the Irish Children on Horses team made it three victories in a row on Saturday in the FEI Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany this weekend.

The team of Lily Tunny riding Caravago, Ruby Lily Gaines riding Castle Lux Clover, Alice Moloney riding Cosima and Cian McMunn riding Limited Edition under the direction of James Kernan, were the only team to finish on a perfect score of 0. Bravo all involved.