THE Co Meath pairing of Esib Power and Breaffy Mandela may not have scored quite such an extraordinary dressage mark as they did at Punchestown seven days earlier but, making it two wins from as many runs, they once again clinched the EI100 from the front.

In last week’s The Irish Field, Power described the Creevagh Ferro-sired gelding as ‘the smartest five-year-old in the country’ and indeed he looked very impressive. Bred by in Co Mayo by Anne Hussey and sourced privately two years ago, the gelding is out of Killbeg Kitty by Ghareeb.

Although the show jumping was fairly influential in the lower rankings, the top eight completed on their dressage marks. A winner at the same venue last autumn, Finn Curran and the Connemara Charlie of Blakehall took second place, from Debbie Flavin with the five-year-old Ballycapple Vagabond. The latter, who is owned and bred by Henry Fleming in Co Wicklow, is a younger half-brother to the aforementioned Ballycapple Whisper, but this time by Fleming’s own sire Ballycapple Diamond Cruise.

Among the others to record a double clear round within the time was Alison Holden, who finished her season in fourth place with the consistent Lates Eddie.

Tullow based Flavin went even better in the final EI90 class, which she won from the front with her own Fort Leanney. Making only her third run under rules, the traditionally bred five-year-old is by the Irish Draught sire Fintan Himself out of the unraced thoroughbred mare Lakeview Nancy.

Flavin, who together with her partner Niall Redmond, runs a busy breaking and point-to-point yard, bought the mare back in June. “She had never been ridden in an outline before that, as she had just been used for hacking,” she explained. “But she’s very willing and loves the job.”

Featuring a similar Irish Draught/thoroughbred cross, Inisbri Ginger (Nazar) ridden by Sarah Furney, picked up his best result of the year to fill second, from Alana-Rose Steele aboard the well-related five-year-old Islandwood Quality Control.