BRITISH rider Nicola Wilson recorded a second victory at last weekend’s Ballindenisk international horse trials when leading from start to finish in the CCI3*-S on the Dutch Warmblood mare Bulana, winner of the Advanced class at Weston Park earlier in the month.

Topping the dressage marks of Britain’s Les Smith (C) and Co Tipperary’s Faith Ponsonby (B) on 22.2 penalties, Wilson and Bulana had a fence down show jumping – as did eight of their 15 rivals – but they put in a brilliant clear across the country to complete on 26.2.

Wilson finished nearly six penalties clear of her compatriot, Louisa Lockwood, whose total of 32.1 on Another Proposition included 0.8 for time on the show jumping phase.

Irish riders filled the next nine places in the 16-strong class, headed by the in-form Sam Watson who completed on his dressage score with Ballybolger Talisman (32.6) as did Michael Ryan with Dunlough Striker (34.2) and Dominic Furnell on Kiltealy Rogers (36.8).

Having been in second place after dressage on Shanbo Sky Fall (27.9), Sarah Ennis finished well down the field as the seven-year-old Beowulf mare lowered two show jumps and then ducked out sharply at the second bush corner element of the avenue crossing at nine.

Though the Co Meath rider Ennis was frustrated with her final result, Wilson was delighted with this win by Bulana as James and Jo Lambert’s 13-year-old mare by Tygo (a son of Numero Uno) is due to make her Badminton debut next week.

“This is a very hot horse so we decided that Ballindenisk offered us a great opportunity to get a run into her in a quiet atmosphere,” commented the rider. “She was very good here and we will just have to wait and see if our strategy works out.”

Two Irish horses were eliminated on the Peter Fell-designed cross-country course, BLS Grand Slam (Alison Holden) for three refusals at fence six (the bamboo water) and Kizzy (Hannah Blakely) who fell at the narrow angled hedge ditch at 17.

Thankfully, horse and rider were both quickly back on their feet.