Alice Kehoe’s home-bred was joint third after the Marie Hennessy-judged ridden display but, in spite of lowering the oxer at three, won by half a point to qualify ahead of the OBOS Qually 004 gelding Kiltar OBOS.

The latter, a big jumping, scopey individual who really covered the ground, was ridden by D.J. O’Sullivan for owner Anthony O’Regan who partnered the bay when he competed in the RDS jumping qualifier at Coilog last month.

The third horse to qualify on Thursday was the Coltstown King gelding Borris Herbie, ridden by Emma Hosey for owner/breeder Joe Skelton. He competed in the Stepping Stones League won by Westwinds Mackenzie at Wexford Equestrian.

“We may do a couple more qualifiers with Mackenzie,” said Ennis who was also fifth in the class with Tom Smyth’s Kings Master gelding Clonmethans Kingstar. “However, I’m going to do some show jumping to educate him a bit as he is still very much a baby. I may also give him a run in a pre-novice.”

It will be interesting to see the horse eventing as, while he looked good during the Stepping Stones league, he appeared even better in the wider spaces here and should improve further when he embarks on his career proper.

Ennis finished first and second in the five-year-old qualifier on husband Niki Potterton’s Stellor Kings Cruise and Stellor Hotshot who were separated by just a single point and were in front from the ridden display phase. She was also fifth here as well with Niamh Tottenham’s Fortmoy Cushla. Stellor Kings Cruise is a Kings Master gelding who was bred by Michael Byrne out of the Cruising mare Cruising Gypsey, a sister of Killossery Katriona (by I’m A Star), Killossery Kobra (by Glenagyle Rebel) and Killosery Kruisita (by Cruising).

The chesnut, who won an intro at the end of last season, and was fifth in a pre-novice on his only start this year, held a commanding lead after the first phase and jumped clear. However, when the suitability and potential marks were totalled, he didn’t score as highly as his stable-companion, a Loughehoe Guy gelding who lowered the oxer at three.

Fred Scala claimed the third qualifying place with Brian Daly’s smart home-bred Newmarket Ventro, a chesnut by Newmarket Venture who was produced in the league last year by D.J. O’Sullivan.