Istabraq - Ireland's Favourite (The Big Horse Painting) was formally unveiled by JP McManus and Istabraq on Tuesday 3 May, 2011 at Punchestown Festival in the parade ring at 2.45pm.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

The painting was exhibited at Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare from 3rd to the 7th May.

The painting is currently on temporary exhibition at Terminal 2, Dublin Airport (it is on the right at the top of escalators, prior to departures). Thanks to DAA for hosting The Big Horse Painting.

Nicola's idea to find Ireland's favourite racehorse and paint it on a massive canvas originated in 2006. The brainchild took four years to realise due to her diagnosis and subsequent surgery and treatment for breast cancer in 2007. With support from The Irish Field, Horse Racing Ireland and The Irish Times the artist launched the innovative project at the Punchestown Festival in 2009 to find the nation's favourite race horse of the last 25 years.

Through a multi media campaign the people of Ireland voted in their thousands from a shortlist of six racehorses (including Dawn Run, Istabraq, Moscow Flyer, Danoli, Limestone Lad and Vintage Crop). The list was drawn up by a panel of industry experts including Ted Walsh, Leo Powell, Robert Hall and James Nicholson.

Nicola spent 18 months painting the outright winner - Istabraq on a massive canvas measuring 13ft by 10ft in her Belfast studio. No one saw the painting until it was unveiled at the Punchestown Festival May, 2011.

A special thanks to everyone who supported the Big Horse Painting - for their support, advice and encouragement:

Punchestown Racecourse
Horse Racing Ireland
The Irish Field
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing
Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association
The Irish Times
Martinstown Stud
Irish Racehorse Trainers Association
Robert Hall, Ted Walsh, Leo Powell, James Nicholson
Ken O'Mahony & Horsebox TV and Istabraq