Fraser Duffy recorded his second victory of the day in the six-year-old class. Riding Carol Gee’s Fernhill Cayenne, Duffy stamped his mark when leading the dressage on 29.5 and, despite rolling a pole, remained just ahead of Michael McNally and Readstown Frankie.

“I’m thrilled with him,” said Duffy of the Jill Carberry-bred son of Porsch (dam by Triggero). “He’s been a slow developer because he’s big and has a lot of movement.”

A supporter of the series, the rider added: “I find the classes really useful, as I struggle to get to the other young horse classes and the FEHL qualifiers. The fact that these are proper events as well is very good, and the prize money is brilliant.”

A tilt at Le Lion d’Angers selection is the aim for Duffy, as it is for second and third-placed Michael McNally (Readstown Frankie) and Heidi Hamilton with Dam Easy.

All three finished on their dressage mark, as did fourth-placed Sarah Ennis and Westwinds Knightrider.

While the cross-country proved straightforward for the majority, the sunken road to wall complex at five proved expensive for both Camilla Speirs (BT Cloud Nine) and Luke Drea (Avoca Druid). The usually consistent pairings added 20 penalties each to their good flatwork marks, while Terence White will be kicking himself for jumping the wrong fence four from home.

Three very classy horses topped the five-year-old division, with pole position going to Michael O’Toole and Night and Day (see ‘One To Watch’). The Co Wicklow duo produced the second best test of the 33-strong field, eventually completing ahead of Sophie Richards and Rehy Wonder Boy (by Rehy High Society) and Ciara Power with the well-named OBOS Impressive (by OBOS Quality).

Although dressage leader Fraser Duffy was left ruing a costly show jump penalty, the results fell mainly in first phase order. Only two runners faulted in the country over a course that was probably a little on the soft side. That said, it was good to see horses come home full of confidence, and also noticeable that some riders had been content to pick up time faults in the interests of education.

Honours in the final sector for four-year-olds fell to former pony medallist Nessa Briody, riding her mother Mary’s Finnsceal. Having found herself plumb last after dressage, Briody rose through the ranks after producing the only double clear round. “I’m not worried about the dressage as he’s improving all the time and is an amazing jumper,” she remarked of the Womanizer gelding. “We bought him at Goresbridge last year, and then sent him to Martin Curran to be broken. Martin did the most amazing job with him, and he’s a pleasure to own and to ride.”

Making use of her transition year from school, Briody has spent time in England training with Kiwi rider Caroline Powell, and is now working from home in Rathangan.

The class changed notably when leaders Brianne Stanley and Business Class added a hefty 28.4 time penalties to their first phase score of 31.5. Further time faults and show jumping errors jostled the lower orders further and allowed Ciara Murphy and Gortmore Peter Pan to move into second spot, from Eamon Wycherley with Ballynoe Royal Imp. Both Hannah Woods (Sahara Blue) and the very well-placed Joanne Corish and Springwell Royale both unfortunately picked up elimination for passing the wrong side of a white flag.