UNICUM-H, a Belgian-bred stallion owned by Ennisnag Stud won the five-year-old ‘Flexible’ championship final in Dublin last Sunday morning.

Ridden by Shane Dalton, the youngster proved best of the 16 finalists which had earned their places during the qualifying rounds on Thursday and Friday. By President out of Jewel Vita-H, by Cicero Van Parnell, the pair are no strangers to the winners’ enclosure having finished in the top five at every outing since Dalton took on the ride in April 2024.

Speaking after the win, Dalton said: “I love the horse, he’s so consistent. I have him for Andrew (Hughes) since May 2024. The first show I did with him was in Marion Hughes’ as a four-year-old. I had only been riding him a couple of days, and I already knew he was something special.

“Not long after that, I broke my hand and a neighbour of ours, young rider Billy Sinnott, stepped in to help us for the month that I was out. He kept him ticking over and, all credit to him, he did a great job - we would have been a bit stuck without his help.

“It was a tough course,” Dalton added. “I was first to go, so I just thought I’ll just stick to the plan. It was difficult coming off the double to the second last; you were heading for the gate and then you had to ask them to turn back away from home and jump another fence.

“For a young horse that is tired and has to try so much, then you are turning and asking them to do more, it will take a little bit of the life out of them asking them to do that. What it did show was that, when you have a horse that really wants to do it for you, and really wants to fight for you; the more you ask, the more they do.

“I was so happy with Unicum, it wasn’t the nicest turn back, he slipped twice and then the distance wasn’t there, so for him to fly to the last and still want to do it for me, that was what won the class.

“The plan for him now is to go to the Young Horse World Championships in Lanaken and hopefully do as well there as he did in Dublin. He is a fantastic horse. He goes out there and puts on his own show.”

21st birthday

Rhys Williams opened proceedings in the main ring, on his 21st birthday, first thing on Sunday morning producing a clear round aboard Grand Armour Kpcm (Grandorado Tn x Emerald Van’T Ruytershof), bred by Karen Millar.

The duo finished as runners-up in the qualifier on Friday, which was won by Tabitha Kyle with her father Mark’s Ottani Z. Another seven combinations managed to match Williams’ clear round, making it an even eight to go forward to the jump-off.

First to go in the decider was Dalton and Unicum-H. Producing a foot-perfect performance which belies his age, the duo broke the finish beams in a time of 31.88 to head proceedings.

Camilla Speirs was next in riding BT Stables’ Belgian stallion Don Juan Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Cardento). A fault at the first part of the double saw their hopes of victory fade and, with four faults to add, they had to settle for fifth place.

Kyle was third to go aboard the Belgian-bred mare Ottani Z (Otterongo Alpha Z x Lord Z). They managed to leave all the poles in place, stopping the clock just slightly off the mark in 32.09 for the runner-up spot.

Liam O’Meara and Willie O’Dea’s mare Gaulross Cornerado (Cornerado Vdl x Cruising), bred by Dermot Murphy, also kept a clean sheet but were a little slower in 37.41 for eventual fourth place. Rhys Williams and Grand Armour Kpcm ran into trouble passing the in-gate, where a refusal cost them four faults.

Beechfield Stables Ltd’s Moneybroom Early Morn (Pilothago Tn x Ekstein), bred by Desmond G. Mackey and ridden by Gemma Phelan, had the third fence down in 36.11, which kept them just inside the top six.

Harry Wood and Boleybawn Farm’s home-bred mare Boleybawn Alexa (Grandorado Tn x Crown Z) ran into the same difficulties as Rhys Williams trying to pass the in-gate and collected 10 faults.

Last to go was the winner from the second qualifier on Friday, European junior medallist Jack Kent aboard Martin Egan’s Castlefield Tycoon (Tyson x Lupicor), bred by Sean Stafford. They were fault-free in 32.55, which slotted them into third place.