ON a roll, Fraser Duffy won the following EI 110 (O), in which he partnered Carol Gee’s Donogue Good Lux Bob, at Grove on Wednesday.

While the class was somewhat subdued by the fall of leader Amanda Goldsbury at the rail/hedge (3), Duffy could do no more than to complete on his dressage score, to head Gillian Beale King (RCA Royal Summer) who bounced back from her earlier tumble to fill second.

Picking up time faults, Sian Coleman was also double clear to hold third with Blarney Acacia.

The winner, who was bought from producer David Raeburn last year, is as his name suggests by Lux Z and, bred by George Hill, is out of Donogue Cavalier Girl (Cavalier Royale). Just six ran.

There was a far healthier entry in the restricted sector, which went the way of Jonathan Steele and R Showman. Another to clock up back-to-back wins, and this time in the space of 10 days, the home-bred R Showman (by Centre Stage) moved up from an opening second spot, to beat Paul Donovan aboard the six-year-old Sportsfield Lumiere, as well as David Raeburn (RC Play It Viv).

All bar one of the 17 runners were clear in the country, with time and show jumping faults juggling the final positions. One to be especially hampered by the time was Elaine Murphy and QT An Tanaiste who, setting out in second spot was expensively outside the time allowed in both jumping phases.

Affection

Always the enthusiast, Tokyo-bound Sarah Ennis could not contain her affection for her EI 100 winner Diamond Fusion. Making only his third run under rules, and his second with Sarah in the saddle, the grey son of Tullabeg Fusion impressed from flag fall, to complete three marks ahead of Jane O’Flynn (Longwood Laura) and Luca Stubington (Kiltown Watson).

“We have nicknamed him George (Clooney) because he’s so handsome!” said Ennis. “I first spotted him at Blackstairs earlier this season, where he was having his first run with Ciaran Moran. I just couldn’t take my eyes off him, and though I had my owners Elish Arkright and Sarah Odlum in mind for him, I knew that if they didn’t buy him I would.”

Subsequently Elish and Sarah travelled to view him at his breeder/owner Bryan Maguire, and sharing Sarah’s thoughts the deal was finalised. “He’s still growing, so we will give him time,” Ennis added. “He might do a couple of the Young Event Horse series before I travel to Tokyo, then probably some show jumping.”

The aptly named MBF Back To Back picked up his second win on the bounce when heading the EI 100 (B). The much-admired son of Metropole, ridden by his owner Meabh Bolger, led the dressage by a comfortable margin, and despite picking up a couple of time penalties in the country, retained the advantage over Sarah Ennis aboard her smart Stepping Stones winner Silken Twist.

Also double clear and remaining in dressage order, Ian Cassells slipped into third with Pat Duffy’s home-bred first timer Brookwood Supersable.