TWO people delighted with Karinella Ruby’s success in the CNC1* at Glaslough last Saturday were rider Anita Doherty, who had brought the mare over from Carrickfergus, and the nine-year-old’s owner, Fiona McKenna, who lives less than a mile from Cloncaw Equestrian Centre.

“She did everything brilliantly today and would be a perfect junior horse,” said Doherty of the Iroko bay. “She’ll go two-star now and, unless sold, will be heading to Camphire.”

The rider was particularly pleased with Karinella Ruby’s dressage test which, achieving a score of 25.8 penalties, left them second after the first phase behind the Katie O’Sullivan-ridden Sumas Favour The Brave (21.8) who had a fence down show jumping.

A small number of additional cross-country time penalties saw O’Sullivan finish third on Sumas Favour The Brave (29) and fourth with AKD Cooley Lockdown (29.6) as fellow Cooley Farm stable jockey Bethany Burton completed on her dressage score with Lissyegan Cooley (28.8).

Doherty likewise remained on her first phase mark throughout on Karinella Ruby (25.8) to record her first success since returning to eventing from show jumping.

Antonia Ward, who was lying third after dressage with Garrydruig Cruisader (26.5), lowered one of the coloured poles and then retired the Cruising gelding following two glance-offs at the Four Seasons Corner (nine).

There were rider falls for Emily Schneider (My Boy Boysie) and Christopher McCartan (Ivy Star) at the Silver Hill Duck Blind convex hedge (15) and the Coffin (13).

“It’s great to win so close to home and you could say that was the plan!” enthused McKenna of the Millhollow Stud. “This mare, who is for sale, has already had a filly foal through embryo transfer by Road To Happiness.”

Karinella Ruby, who was bred in Co Dublin by Evelyn O’Farrell, is out of the Sea Crest mare Karinella Rosie, a full-sister to Caroline Powell’s great four-star ride, Lenamore.

Aidan Keogh won the five-runner O/CNC1* with his Cassino gelding Castle Howard Ace who was making his debut at this level.

The eight-year-old bay added 3.2 cross-county time penalties to his winning dressage score of 24 to record his first success. Castle Howard Ace was bred in Co Wicklow by Susan Fitzpatrick and is a half-brother to, among others, Castlehoward Romeo who recently qualified for the four-year-old young event horse class at Dublin.

The Smith yard was well-represented but only Hollie managed to ride a winner on Saturday when landing the CNCJ1* with Baby Roller whose completion score of 32 included 3.2 cross-country time penalties.

The 16-year-old has been longlisted for the Junior European team with both this 10-year-old Diamond Roller mare and with Anvil Lodge Pinnochio who was fifth of the six starters here.

The pair have been entered for the Kilguilkey House international next weekend, while Hill Dancer, who Smith rode in the Junior class at Ballindenisk international in April, has been sold into the United States.

Baby Roller’s clear show jumping round proved crucial as Charlotte de Montmorency, who finished second with Wineport Knockout (34.6) had a fence down. Laoise O’Farrell, the only one to beat the clock across the country on Primitive Pip (45.8), picked up 12 jumping penalties, as did Lexi Kilfeather, who was leading after dressage on 27.5 with Battenburg.