BALLINDENISK is a happy hunting ground for MGH Zabaione and Padraig McCarthy as they took another victory on home soil. Twelve months ago, the combination took the victory at the level below and kicked off their international season exactly where they left off at the end of last season with a win.

The nine-year-old home-bred gelding only added 2.4 time penalties around the Helen West-designed cross-country course to their dressage score of 33.7 to win the Nutriscience CCI4*-L.

The combination became the first ever Irish winner of the eight/nine-year-old class at Blenheim International Horse Trials last year and they show no signs of easing up.

“He’s won at every level the whole way up and having bred him makes it extra special,” remarked McCarthy.

“It was his first time at that level, I didn’t plan to go as quick cross-country, but I just let him run.”

When speaking about his future plans, McCarthy mentioned a trip to Aachen in the summer. “I have my eye on the World Championships next year for him so I’d like to get him to see the venue if I can, but he’ll probably go back to try and regain his title in Blenheim too,” he said.

The ground jury of Joanne Jarden (IRL), Les Smith (GBR) and Faith Ponsonby (IRL) found it hard to separate the 20-strong field, only four marks covered the top 10, but they had Susie Berry and John the Bull as their leaders on a score of 30.0.

This combination’s competition ended early when they were deemed to have missed a fence out on cross-country, resulting in elimination. Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis stormed around the 26 fences and were one of only two to make the optimum time, putting them top of the leaderboard ahead of the final phase on Sunday morning.

An unfortunate four faults and some time penalties on Sunday meant they had to settle for eventual third. The only other competitor clear inside the time around Helen West’s track was the thoroughbred Public Address and Tom Strawson. Bred locally by Morgan Sheehy, the Milan gelding ran twice when trained by Peter Croke before being retrained by Aubrey Chapman. The combination finished eventual sixth and won the award for the Highest Placed Thoroughbred, sponsored by Treo Eile.

Unfortunately, overnight second place, Izzy Taylor and SBH Big Wall had to withdraw before the final horse inspection after an impressive clear cross-country round on Saturday.

Runner-up

Taking the runner-up spot in the class was Irish Sport Horse The Ferryman ridden by Sophie Callard for Britain. Originally bought for his owner, Emma Vogel, Sophie took over the reins around four years ago.

“We just started to play around and had no real plans and here we are at 4*. He just keeps exceeding our expectations at every level we get to, this is my first time to compete abroad and I was really excited about coming over.” Speaking about West’s cross-country course, Sophie commented that “it rewarded forward and positive riding which is what you want from a course.”

“We were delighted to have such a strong field line up in this class, we have had great support from the sponsor Nutriscience, so it was great to get those entries,” remarked organiser Peter Fell.

“Having Helen on board to design the course added a fresh twist to the track and it really rewarded positive riding. The weather wasn’t on our side for the first few days, but the team just kept their heads down. The stabling area got pretty muddy but Paddy Gately and his team were brilliant.” Through the Johnson & Perrott Motor Group and Defender in Cork, the photos for competitors were supplied through Irish Eventing Times and Horse Sport Images.