THERE were 25 starters in the CNC1* class but Catherine Robinson recorded the only double clear inside the time to win on the attractive Excalibur (33.3) who, it was stressed, is owned by Neil McCluskey and not River Lodge Equestrian.

“We were just too lazy to change it,” said the owner of the San Remo nine-year-old who jumped double clear for the fifth time in-a-row. “He always finds a leg,” said Robinson of the grey who is on the market.

Most of those ahead of the Dromara combination after dressage fell behind following the show jumping phase, and they were always just in front of Patrick Whelan and the seven-year-old mare Dunmarklun Lady whose completion score of 34.3 including 0.8 of a cross-country time penalty. The corner at six, where there was a black flag option, caused the most problems in this class.

Having their first outing since the European young riders’ championships at Fontainebleau, where they finished 31st of the 62 starters, Stephanie Stammschroer and the nine-year-old Watermill Swatch gelding Master Swatch landed the eight-runner O/CNC1* class on their winning dressage score (26.8).

Successful in the Pony Club Members’ combined training class at the Dublin Horse Show, Megan O’Leary and her mother Wendy’s 15-year-old Puissance gelding Silver Brog ran out the very comfortable winners of the 10-runner CNCJ1* class.