WITH Trevor Smith unable to ride at Knockany because of a hamstring injury, brother Steven sat up for the second time in public on Baby Roller in the CNC* class and again filled the runner-up slot on the Diamond Roller mare.

Although an eight-year-old, the bay only began eventing this July having done a small amount of show jumping with her previous owner, Johnny Duffy. She was having her fourth outing at novice level on Saturday and is improving with every start.

Baby Roller was bred out of a Flagmount Diamond mare by Duffy’s neighbour John Kearney and is a full-sister to Cooley Roller Coaster who finished second in the CCI* at Camphire in July under Britain’s Emilie Chandler. Kearney stands Diamond Roller who is also out of a Flagmount Diamond mare but by High Roller, and he is very much his owner’s pride and joy.

“Diamond Roller is the most talked about stallion in Ireland in our house!” reported Kearney, whose wife Veronica tries her best to steer conversation away from the Irish Sport Horse sire. His best produce to date is Cooley Cross Border who competes at international two-star level in the USA and, like Baby Roller, comes from the stallion’s second crop.