NOT for the first time, National Hunt racing and eventing ran side by side on opposite banks of the River Blackwater last Easter Sunday. Hosted by Eventing Ireland’s chairman David O’Meara, the picturesque event fixture at Clyda was a late but welcome addition to the calendar, and offered many in the south of the country the chance of a final run before Ballindenisk this weekend.

O’Meara, his assistant Philip Landy, and joint designer Danny Dulohery had worked immensely hard to stage this last minute meeting, which delivered five tracks in top-notch order.

Although jumping penalties were infrequent, the galloping course was given the definite thumbs up by the riders, who all appreciated the efforts made.

“We only had a couple of weeks to present this fixture, so we changed it slightly and gave the riders plenty of galloping,” explained Dulohery. “The ground couldn’t have been better, and riders all seemed very happy. We are really are looking forward to the event in June, when there will be a new loop in the woods below the house, as well as a number of other features.”

O/CNC2* and CNC2*

Having completed 2016 on a winning note, Brian Morrison opened his account for the new year when Gill Langford’s Ballymolloy Rogan confidently landed the spoils in the O/CNC2*.

Placed fourth at Tyrella two weeks earlier, the eight-year-old produced his usual eye-catching performance on the flat (28.6), and although he was just denied the lead at that stage, he made up the deficit with two foot-perfect jumping performances.

“He’s come back in a much more mature horse this year,” reflected Morrison. “He is loving the job, and pulled me around the cross-country. The track was great, especially the galloping stretch along the river. It allowed you to jump out of a gallop which you are not often able to do these days.”

A tilt at the CCI2* at Ballindenisk this weekend is next up for traditionally bred son of Cougar, while the European young rider championships are likely to be the goal for second placed Tessa Harley and Catsky. The latter pairing also completed on their opening mark (29.6) just ahead of first phase leaders Alison Holden and O My Balladeer, who lost their advantage when adding nine time faults in the country. All six completed.

In contrast, none of the six runners in the following CNC2* came home within the time allowed, but emerging as the easy winners were Jessica O’Driscoll and the German-bred Clooney MS. Despite adding a further 6.8 time penalties to their winning dressage mark of 30.0 the pair produced the sole show jumping clear round and as a result headed Shannon Nelson (OLS Pixie Hollow) by a full nine marks.

“There were some big fences out there and the course was largely up to height, but it rode well and forward,” commented O’Driscoll, who is targeting the short format CIC2* this weekend.

A similar distance adrift after an expensive show jumping round, Cathal Daniels held on the third with Greenfort Marbridge. Unluckiest of all was Brianne Stanley, who having been well in touch after dressage (33.0), picked up the only cross-country error when she parted company with Bit of Business at the corners (11).