BADMINTON and Luhmuhlen heroine Jonelle Price added another long format victory to her collection when she landed the Castleacre CCI2* from the front. Riding Lucy Nelson’s home-bred mare Hester, Price shone on the flat (26.0) before producing a slick, if at first controversial round across the country. She followed that with a clear round over the coloured poles, narrowly maintaining her advantage over compatriot James Avery with Mr Sneezy.

It had been a close call however, as Price was initially awarded 20 penalties for a somewhat circuitous route in the feature water (21abc). This was later removed on video evidence, and as Price explained: “I jumped in very big and did a bit of a crafty ‘s’ bend.” She explained: “I knew it was tight but luckily it was all caught on video.”

Only a seven-year-old, the daughter of Heinrich Heine was originally bred to do dressage and was sourced through dressage trainer Isabel Wessells nearly two years ago. “She’s not really my type – but she looks like a Range Rover and drives like a Ferrari,” jested Price. “She’s a bit of a dark horse and quite sensitive, but we had a good run and may now aim for Le Lion d’Angers.”

Less than a mark adrift on 26.8, fellow Kiwi and Price’s former pupil James Avery held on to second spot with Tiny Clapham and DHI Event Horses’ Mr Sneezy. “He is a cross-country machine,” said the rider of the 10-year-old. “He had been show-jumping before we had him, and although he’s now 10, he has very little eventing mileage.”

The Carmel O’Keefe-bred gelding by Cobra (dam by Fourstars Allstar) certainly filled the eye and was originally campaigned here in Ireland by Meghan Healy. He was then sourced by Clapham from English producer Steve Barnes and is highly rated by both owner and rider.

GREAT SPIN

Making massive strides up the leaderboard, and flying the flag for Ireland, a visibly delighted Emily Corbett filled third spot (35.4) with her own Leapfrog. The Tyrella-based rider opened in 14th place, before producing a foot-perfect double clear. Another late developer, Leapfrog was bought as an unbroken seven-year-old and had been produced by Corbett throughout.

“I bought him from his breeder, John Guiry, who thought he was a five-year-old,” said Corbett. “He didn’t have a passport but was chipped, so when his book did return it turned out that he was in fact seven!”

Now an 11-year-old, Corbett plans to aim for the next level, but is in no rush with this able performer.

Just five of the 21 runners ran into problems, most notably Brazil’s Marco Jorge who dropped from fifth spot after glancing off at the tricky downhill Castleacres complex (12). Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy (Rosemaber Lancuest) also lost a competitive place when circling in the water (21) but the Devon-based rider did enjoy a great spin with MGH Annaghmore who, having unluckily tipped a show jump, completed in fifth.

A good call was made by fence judges Ali Maxwell and Iona Murray who, on checking the landing side of the ‘fallen log’ (18), discovered false ground covering a badger’s sett and, as a result, the fence was removed.