AS one of the Red Mills eventing ambassadors, it was appropriate that Sam Watson should land the first leg of this popular series aboard Belinda Keir’s Ardagh Highlight.

Watched by Connolly’s Red Mills equine brand manager Jane Davis, the Co Carlow duo led from the front (26.6), ultimately producing one of just two double clear rounds. As one of the riders who had schooled on the grass prior to competition, Watson remarked: “We had a great ride. I just love him – he has a bit of the X factor, rather like Bushman. We will do another couple of events at this level, and hopefully move up at Tattersalls.”

Bred in the purple, Ardagh Highlight (by Puissance) hails from one of Theresa Walsh’s prolific equine families and is a full-sibling to Watson’s European championship partner Horseware Lukeswell, the stallion Imperial Tiger and numerous other international performers.

Only two of the 18 runners stopped the clock within the time but the addition of just 0.4 penalties was good enough to secure a second placing for Cathal Daniels and Sammy Davis Junior. Having his first run since Le Lion d’Angers last year, the highly rated eight-year-old completed on 30.6, ahead of Heidi Hamilton with the slightly slower Dam Easy (34.8) and the fast and accurate Adam Haugh (Master Gold Touch). Although the show jumping altered the order, the cross-country rode well and produced just two isolated errors.

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Co Waterford young horse producer Meabh Bolger demonstrated that she is equally polished in eventing’s two-star ranks, when she landed a smart win with her own Killossery Athletic Touch.

Benefitting from the withdrawal of dressage leader Ella Boyle (Candy 737), Bolger went on to head the field from flag fall, and extended her advantage by producing the sole show jumping clear round. The talented Out of Touch-sired 11-year-old has carried several top riders during his career and used to be quirky, but posting their third win together this is a partnership really seems to have gelled.

Enjoying the trip across the country, the duo clocked up 10.8 time penalties, but still headed the speedy Dominic Furnell (Ballycahane Lucy) and Joseph Murphy, double-handed with The Mistress and Rock Harbour.