Sweet victory for Coleman

DAY one of last weekend’s Punchestown fixture was dedicated to classes at EI100 and EI90 level and Siân Coleman got her trip up country off to a good start when landing the 27-runner EI100 on Caroline Colthurst’s Blarney Monbeg Pepper.

Second on her debut at Crecora (1), the five-year-old by Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet was bred in Co Wexford by Marie and Peadar Carter out of the Cult Hero mare Ballyeden Hero, a half-sister to Fernhill Clover Mist (CCI4*).

Coleman reveals how she got the ride last spring. “After Kilroe Hero (CCI5*) died, Caroline kindly offered to buy me another horse to try to get back up to the top level. I love mares and Marti Rudd from Monbeg contacted me about a green four-year-old last July. She’s an extremely talented mare, with the temperament to match, so we will just produce her slowly and, with a bit of luck, we will have some great fun and success with her.”

Coleman completed on her dressage score (27.3 penalties) as did Sarah Sproule on seasonal debutant Ballyneety Rainbow (31) and Michael McNally with the Frankfort Stud (1) winner Sweet Rolo (33.3). McNally went on to claim Saturday’s EI90 with Janet Williamson’s four-year-old Womanizer gelding Sir Bobby Lawrence on whom he was second seven days earlier.