RUNNER-up 12 months ago, Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound went one better to head an all-Irish podium finish in the Global Sport Horses feature CIC3*.

Holding on to their overnight lead and the only combination to retain their opening mark (28.2), the duo blistered around the track to record the fastest time of the class. Chasing throughout but finishing two marks in arrears, were compatriots and fellow WEG hopefuls Cathal Daniels (Sammy Davis Junior) from Joseph Murphy with Sportsfield Othello.

It was a particularly sweet victory for the Co Meath pair who, having made an uncharacteristic error in Luhmuhlen two weeks earlier, opted to run here to make amends.

“I was so frustrated after Luhmuhlen, so I went straight to Chris Bartle (in Yorkshire) to try to understand why,” Ennis explained. “I haven’t even jumped him since Germany, but we’ve changed his bit and he rocketed around here today as straight as a dye.”

Bettered only by Clare Abbott and Euro Prince on the flat, Ennis produced her customary good test to narrowly fill second place on a smart score of 28.2. She moved ahead overnight, when Euro Prince tipped the first element of the double (4) in the show jumping but was still less than a mark in front of Daniels on 28.6 and Sophie Richards with SRS Adventure (28.9).

Building to a climax, with Ennis going out last, Saturday’s cross-country phase proved a thrilling one. The first upset came early in the day when Euro Prince marred his otherwise superb round with a last-minute refusal at the simple looking hanging log into the water (7a).

A little later, the big striding SRS Adventure also caused a shock when he expensively glanced past the skinniest of brushes at the base of the downhill complex three from home (19b).

Richards was not alone to fault at this accuracy demanding combination which also added 20 penalties to the scores of Jim Newsam (Magennis) and three-star first timers Enda O’Gorman and Tallen.

AMENDS

At the business end of proceedings, second-placed Daniels produced a flawless performance with Sammy Davis Junior, but by adding 2.4 penalties had eased Ennis’ passage to the top.

It was the duos first outing since falling at Bramham a few weeks ago, so Daniels was delighted with the result. “I didn’t set out to make the time,” he revealed afterwards. “This was an ideal first run for him after Bramham, and he was straight and honest everywhere.”

Only a nine-year-old, the son of Imperial Heights is not qualified for WEG selection but his end of season plans are likely to include Boekelo and possibly a four-star step up at Pau.

At the top of the experience spectrum, Joseph Murphy could not have been more pleased with his third-placed veteran Sportsfield Othello. Belying his 17 years, the Ricardo Z-sired gelding added just to 3.2 time penalties to his opening score and was classy throughout.

“I feel that in all three phases he feels different again this year,” said Murphy. “This was his first run since Badminton, so it was really a warm up run before his next big target.” Camphire is now the aim for the duo, who would appear to be in the mix for WEG selection. Another rider to praise the underfoot conditions, Murphy added: “I wasn’t entirely sure I would run him but having watched some earlier horses go, I could see that not only was there no jar in the ground, they were actually making a print.”

Another notable performances came from Giovanni Ugolotti, whose stylish double clear round with Cosmos Baby earned fourth place, from Britain’s Ben Hobday who slotted into fifth with Ciletto H.

Among the Irish eye catchers to deliver fault free jumping performances were Johnny Steele (Centre Stage) in 10th, Sarah Ennis and Woodcourt Garrison (11th), and Michael McNally who was impressive with the young seven-year-old first-timer Eclipto (14th).

There was only one faller, as Laura Ritchie-Bland, who was the best of the British in eighth place overnight, lost her chance of promotion when she was ejected from Shadow Evergreen at the Monymusk Mounds (7).