IN what proved to be the most thrilling finish of the weekend, Ireland’s World Equestrian Games silver medallist Cathals Daniels incredibly racked up his third international win in just four weeks in the feature Global Event Horses CCI4*-S.

Enjoying a remarkable run of success, Daniels teamed up with Jo Breheny’s Tattersalls heroine LEB Lias Jewel and, by recording the fastest round across the country, pipped fellow international Aoife Clark in the final moments.

The Co Galway native had set out as last to go across the country, crucially aware that none of the previous starters had come near the time allowed. Armed with this knowledge and handily placed in fourth spot overnight, Daniels and the Limmerick-sired mare shaved seconds at every opportunity, galloping home to add just 6.4 time to their smart opening score of 33.3.

“I probably always thought she would be the most competitive of my three rides, but this was her first time at the level, so I had to take it as it came,” reflected the rider.

“Having already ridden around twice, I knew I had to go fast and this was always going to suit her. She’s nimble and agile, so I don’t have to waste time setting her up – she’s very economical.”

While connections had originally pencilled in an outing at Camphire as the mare’s next engagement, Daniels admitted that on the back of this impressive run, a rethink could be on the cards. “There are plenty of choices out there, but we will all have a chat, and she may now be aimed for the ERM at Millstreet and a possible a long format qualification.”

Clark delighted

The time allowed in these more intense short format classes is historically tight, but it was quite a surprise when the first few runners amassed penalties in double figures.

One was the overnight leader Aoife Clark who, riding her European championship squad contender Fernhill Adventure, added a hefty 16.8 to her winning dressage score of 27.0. When the sums were complete however, Clark was delighted to find herself in second place, especially as she only gave birth to her baby son Patrick just eight weeks ago.

“We decided to come here as a warm up for the forthcoming Nations Cup in Aachen and because we were told that the organisers do lots of work on the ground,” she explained.

“Hopefully we have big things ahead this year. The time was ‘ungettable’ but he went in a good rhythm and it was good to get him out there and switched on.”

Completing an Irish top-three was an equally upbeat Sarah Ennis, who teamed up with her rejuvenated international partner BLM Diamond Delux. Having only his second run since Burghley nearly two years ago, the son of Olympic Lux set out across the country in second spot and both amazed and delighted Ennis with his enthusiasm.

“I can’t believe it!” she said with a laugh. “I didn’t even know if he wanted to event anymore!

“He went out of that start box like a tiger, and I’ve never known him so good in the country.”

Since his lacklustre run at Burghley in 2017, which resulted in an injury, Ennis had focussed her gelding on the physically less demanding confines of the show jumping arena. “At the end of the day I don’t have time to do both sports, and I also have a family.

“However, when, I entered him here, I had already decided that if he went out and didn’t love it I would pull him up. He was savage today! He doesn’t owe me anything, and today he gave me the biggest lift and has put the biggest smile on my face,” Ennis added.

In charge of the feature track for many years, and at the helm of the forthcoming FEI European Eventing Championships in Luhmuhlen, course designer Mike Etherington-Smith had built some fresh questions on the 35-effort track.

Only two of the 27 starters failed to complete, and while the Japanese rider Toshiyuki Tanaka (Swiper JRA) broke a frangible pin at the Eventing Ireland devils dyke (19a), the course generally proved trouble free.

“I felt I had been quite generous this year, but this event is never set out to be over difficult,” explained Etherington-Smith. “I have no problems with the 6.15 time allowed. The primary thing is to make sure it’s a proper four-star track, but at the same time to give horses confidence.”

In fourth place, a speedy Patrick Whelan (Footfall) was elevated from an initial 20th spot, just ahead of the Aachen-bound Ciaran Glynn (November Night) and Joseph Murphy (Sportsfield Othello), both of whom were enjoying their first outing since Badminton.