'Queen of the North' Lady Buttons crowned champion show horse

Lady Buttons, known by those closest to her as the 'Queen of the North', earned honours in another discipline on Thursday evening when she was crowned champion Rising Star Racehorse To Show Horse at the London International Horse Show.

The 14-year-old won a remarkable 15 of her 33 races under rules between 2013 and 2020 for Phil Kirby, including back-to-back runnings of the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster. She was also a two-time winner of the Listed Mares’ Hurdle at Wetherby.

She was retired with nearly £300,000 in prize-money to her name due to injury after finishing an honourable seventh in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020 with a BHA rating of 150, her highest-ever mark.

Lady Buttons and connections after success in the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares' HurdleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

After being unable to get in foal at stud, Lady Buttons was sent to her former work-rider Jennie Durrans, who rode her on Thursday, to retrain in February 2023. She won all three classes at Burgham Horse Trials last year but this week was the first time she had competed at an indoor show.

Durrans, whose partner Adam Nicol rode Lady Buttons in 26 of her 33 starts under rules, said: "I would never have dreamed Lady Buttons could achieve what she did out there. She's a beautiful horse but there were so many stunning horses in that class – they’re all amazing. 

"This class proves just how versatile thoroughbreds are, from polo and eventing to showing and dressage. They can do it all. Even after their racing careers, they continue to give us so much. I’m so proud of her and the others I have the privilege of working with.”

Friday's session at the show included the Markel Jockeys Jumping class featuring two teams of five jockeys captained by Sir AP McCoy and Harry Skelton. 

Joining McCoy were Harry Cobden, Joanna Mason, Nico de Boinville and Gina Andrews, while Sam Twiston-Davies, James Bowen, Lilly Pinchen and Brian Hughes were on Skelton’s team, which emerged victorious in a closely fought battle.

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