The latest being the mare Starlight Clover whose total of 28.5 under Fraser Duffy in section B of the CNC* included four show jumping penalties.

The 2005 Freddie’s Star bay, who was bred by Pat O’Donovan out of a Tara Clover mare, did a small bit of jumping here as a five-year-old before being exported to Italy. There, she continued to jump until spotted by Gee’s friend Elisabetta Moranzoni, who thought she would make a nice event horse.

“The mare arrived in Ireland a month ago and Fraser had been cross-country schooling her in preparation for her first event,” reported the Kilkenny owner/producer. “She was already riding well on the flat and just needed a bit of re-arranging for eventing rather than show jumping. I feel she will quickly move up the grades.”

Section A was won by Louise Bloomer riding Jinnie Webb’s smart grey Fernhill Frankie, who added four show jumping penalties to his flat work mark of 22.

Among the entries for Grove tomorrow and the CIC* at Camphire the following weekend, the tall Frankfort Boy gelding has always impressed and just needs luck on his side to run up a sequence of good performances. This was his first outing since gashing his knee badly at Tyrella (1) in late March.

Damien Beaver’s show jumping track in the sand arena had a big effect on the results at this level, with plenty of poles having to be replaced in the cups.

Four of the nine runners in the open novice class had problems in this phase but the other five completed on their dressage scores. The all-the-way winner was the Emma Jackson-owned and ridden Creevagh Connection (27.5) The eye-catching seven-year-old S Creevagh Ferro gelding is among a strong draft of horses Jackson has entered for Camphire next weekend.

Young rider Kerri Lyons finished second with the Connemara gelding Breeze On (31) and third on Olympic Cool (32) while her former ride, Penny Swift, placed second (30.5) in the CNCJ* under Aine Freyne.

Just managing to hold on by a point in this five-runner class was Robbie Kearns who had a good lead after dressage (21.5) but picked up eight show jumping penalties with Jane O’Flynn’s nine-year-old Ramiro B mare Garrybritt Bonny.

Kearns had to settle for second place, on his first phase score of 24, in the Junior C with Ballygannon Orbis Girl who was dropping down in grade following problems in three outings at one-star level.

Leading from the outset to score by four points was Daragh Byrne with Jennifer Johnson’s Ulverton Star. The owner had been unseated from the 16-year-old gelding at Killossery Lodge (1) and had no luck either in their previous two outings under EI rules back in 2011. They had taken part in Riding Club activities in the interim.

There were only three starters in the CNCP** and although marginally last after dressage (42), Stephanie Stammschroer ran out the winner with her mother Paula’s Miltown Magic.

However the seven-year-old Moores Clover gelding had a completion score of 66 with one fence down show jumping and 20 jumping penalties at the double of pheasant feeder hedges. Alex Power and Kileatin Eezie picked up eight show jumping penalties and 20 on the final leg when ducking out at the wishing well second element after the drop at four for a total of 69.2.

Flatwork leader

The flatwork leader (39), Wilderwood Storm (Caoimhe Eivers), was withdrawn after the show jumping phase where he incurred nine penalties.

Only two combinations contested the one-star pony class where Niamh Farrell and Ballysheil Rocco completed on their dressage score (18) as did Taylor Deane and Rosscon Mr Whatson (22).

A massive field of 40 contested the pre-novice class, with 15 of them having widely spread problems on the cross-country course, while a fairly similar number erred in the show jumping ring.

Having finished second and sixth in the O/CNC** with Greenfort Endeavour and Greenfort Hermes respectively, Michael O’Toole rounded off his long day in style when successful with his own Shannondale Daly.

By the Zangersheide stallion Hannibal V Overis Z, the five-year-old, who completed on his winning dressage score of 30.5, was bred in Co Clare by James Daly out of the Seamanship mare Rhineroe Breeze. He is due to have another run at pre-novice level this weekend.

In second place was MHS Cavaliers Son (31), ridden by Katie O’Sullivan for Richard Sheane. Making his EI debut, this seven-year-old grey gelding, who has 22 SJI points, is by Cavalier Royale and was bred by Thomas Brennan out of the Heritage Fortunus mare All Talent. The latter is a half-sister to the international show jumpers Two Mills Showtime and Fuaran who are both by Cavalier Royale.