BRIDGEND’S remarkable former racehorse, An Cathaoir, is to compete across four showing classes at The Jockey Club RoR National Championships in Aintree this August, despite losing an eye after contracting uveitis.
Following a limited racing career, An Cathaoir, lovingly known as Angus, has successfully taken to a new career in showing under the guidance of Victoria Bertorelli, who bought the 16-year-old shortly before lockdown in 2020.
Victoria, a 32-year-old retail assistant at The Hunting Shop in Bridgend, and An Cathaoir have accumulated many outstanding showing victories, including the Royal Welsh twice, and the Tattersalls RoR Amateur Ridden Show Final at Hickstead earlier this year.
Overcoming the challenges faced when losing an eye in 2020, and the subsequent rehabilitation work, An Cathaoir has demonstrated the remarkable versatility of Thoroughbreds as he flourishes in the showing arena and will take part in four of the Tattersalls RoR Showing Series Finals.
Victoria Bertorelli, owner and rider of An Cathaoir said: “Winning at Hickstead was a real stand out moment for us and I still can’t watch the video without crying.
“Walking past the trophy and rosette every day is amazing and to win at the RoR National Championships, would be incredible. When I bought Angus, I never even dreamt of doing this, but now it would be the icing on the cake.”
An Cathaoir and Victoria are devotedly supported at all their events by Victoria’s partner, Gavin Merkel, who claimed the Best Dressed Groom award at the London International Horse Show in 2023.
The RoR National Championships, taking place from August 19–24 at Aintree International Equestrian Centre, is Great Britain’s largest event exclusively for former racehorses. The six-day showcase features classes in showing, dressage, and jumping, culminating with the crowning of The Tattersalls RoR Ridden Showing Supreme Champion during Saturday’s evening performance.
David Catlow, Managing Director of RoR, commented: “We are very much looking forward to this year’s National Championship Show.
“It offers former racehorses and their owners the chance to compete across a range of disciplines at the highest level, while also celebrating the many diverse second careers Thoroughbreds can enjoy after racing.
“The event highlights the vital role that RoR — alongside the wider racing industry — plays in ensuring lifelong care and support for these horses as they transition into new chapters.”
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), British racing’s official aftercare charity, is devoted to ensuring the welfare of racehorses when they retire from racing, and An Cathaoir’s story is an example of the variety of second careers former racehorses enjoy. More than 2,000 racehorses leave the sport each year, and like people changing jobs, these horses learn new skills and adapt to new environments. Not all second careers involve competition, others provide therapy or are equally happy leisure riding or hacking.
This year, the same weekend also marks the start of National Racehorse Week, an annual nationwide celebration of racehorses, and a chance for communities to see first-hand the love, care and attention that goes into looking after them.
The 2025 edition will include more than 90 events taking place across the country, with 12,000 free places available for people to experience the life of a racehorse at training yards and retraining centres. Local events include trainer Christian Williams opening Ogmore Farm on Tuesday August 26, and Tim Vaughan opening his Pant Wilkin Stables on Saturday August 30.
To explore the full programme of the events taking place between August 23-31, visit the National Racehorse Week website.
