LANDING his third young event horse title in as many years, owner Richard Ames could be forgiven for being a little complacent: but as an exuberant enthusiast, he was overjoyed when his smart Belline Kasparov landed a competitive five-year-old championship under stable jockey Robbie Kearns at the 2025 Dublin Horse Show.

“It’s absolutely fantastic, and very special to have achieved it in this 150th anniversary year,” Ames said afterwards.

“It’s fantastic for the whole team, my wife Tanja, Robbie and everyone in the yard at home who works so hard. It’s a very special class to win, and it’s special for all riders to have the opportunity to ride in this wonderful arena - whether they come first or last.”

In the tightest of finishes, the result was not decided until the final horse jumped. The overnight leader Louise Codd (Brookfield Oscar) had expensively tipped a pole earlier in the class and, with just a few left to jump, the long-time leader was BT Just Special ridden by Diarmuid Ryan.

Holding a narrow advantage on 91.8, it seemed as though the pair were almost home and hosed, but heading out as the penultimate runner, it was Belline Kasparov who truly impressed the judges. Fluent throughout, the son of Quality Time collected a universally-strong set of scores from judges William Fox-Pitt, Nicola Wilson and Simon Grieve, to forge ahead on 94.1. Adding to the drama as last to go, Sarah Ennis and the mare Fenyas Email produced a sparkling performance and, coming closest to the winner, they filled second on 91.9 thus demoting BT Just Special to third.

Highly rated

Bred by Ian Norris, and sourced from Cork-based Kieran Fahey as a three-year-old, the winner is out of Chestnuthill Lady Millbrook by Kroongraf going back to Cavalier Royale. Very lightly evented, he won his class at Frankfort at the end of June, and was placed runner-up at Crecora last time out.

He is highly rated by both Kearns and Ames, who added: “Kasparov is a very exciting prospect. He is maturing all the time, and is a proper event horse.”

Another staunch event horse enthusiast and breeder is PJ Hegarty, whose home-bred Fenyas Email was promoted from eighth place overnight into second spot.

Capably ridden by Sarah Ennis and picking up the €1,000 mares’ bonus, the daughter of Jaguar Mail was at her best in the main arena when producing one of six clear rounds. Bred to perform and benefiting from the added 7.5% thoroughbred mark, Fenyas Email is of course out of the Hegarty family’s much-loved four-star event mare Fenyas Elegance, by Ricardo Z.

A winner of Blenheim under Aoife Clark, Fenya has not been the easiest mare to breed from and, as the only registered progeny, she will be retained to compete.

In third place, Bridget Speirs’ home-bred Stepping Stones winner BT Just Special has enjoyed a fantastic season. Setting out as one of the ante-post favourites, he was marked uncharacteristically modestly on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday he was unlucky to lose a shoe early in his jumping round. The big I’m Special de Muze-sired gelding has plenty ahead to look forward to however, and will now head to Burghley to contest the prestigious Burghley young horse championships.

One who gained plenty of admirers and probably the biggest applause of the day was the fourth placed Lislan Chacfly (by Chacfly), owned by Michael Kelly and rider Jill Revill. A real jumper and galloper, he was highly rated by the ringside pundits and was described by the experienced Revill as “one of the nicest horses I have sat on”.

The class kicked off in Ring 2 on Wednesday evening, where all runners performed a dressage test, jumped a deceptively spooky course of five fences and were assessed for their conformation. Marks were close throughout, and, once again, the divisive thoroughbred percentage mark (an additional 10 marks) was the topic for discussion. Opinions differ, but while its presence has merit, perhaps the hefty weight of its influence could be lessened.

Fox-Pitt impressed

Legendary event rider William Fox-Pitt had always wanted to judge at the RDS and now, having retired from his international riding commitments, he has finally been able to do so. Joining up with fellow championship rider Nicola Wilson, as well as the younger up and coming five-star campaigner Simon Grieve, Fox Pitt remarked: “It’s been amazing to be here and great to have experienced the whole show.

“I thought the overall standard was very high - it always amazes me how the young horses cope, especially the four-year-olds. There were all sorts - some will be winners at two and three-star, while some will go on to bigger things. The five-year-olds were especially strong, with good ones going down the line. We all thought the winning four-year-old mare was put together very soundly - a really nice filly.”