NIAMH McEvoy scored her second young horse championship win in as many days when she captured the ‘Cruising’ six-year-old title in the main ring on Sunday morning.

Riding the Ennisnag Stud-bred BP Othello (Ganesh Hero Z x Tygo), the Ballypatrick Stables-based rider posted one of only two double clears in the four-way decider, in a time of 34.35 to secure the win.

Speaking to The Irish Field following the victory McEvoy said: “I thought the six-year-olds was definitely all about the jumping. When I walked it, I thought it was probably one of the biggest six-year-old tracks I’ve seen.

“Othello is actually my cousin Michael Roche’s horse. Michael just qualified as a barrister and the day before the last qualifier, he got called in at the last minute to work so we asked if I would jump him. He ended up qualifying and together we decided that I would take him to Dublin.

“He’s a really, really nice horse. I haven’t had him too long, only since the last qualifier. Michael bought him in the Ballypatrick auction as a three-year-old and has produced him himself.

“I was really, really impressed by him. I thought he jumped around really easy, he showed a lot of scope and good character. He is out of the same mare as ESI Ali (1.60m) so it’s a really interesting pedigree.”

Tough track

Just 16 had qualified to line out for the final on Sunday in the main ring. McEvoy was pathfinder aboard her first mount Gary and Leslie Hazlewood’s Ballypatrick-bred mare BP Lucky Clover (My Lord Carthago x Captain Clover).

Having finished third on day one and second on day two, much was expected of the pair but Lucky Clover’s luck seemed to have run out, and an uncharacteristic refusal at the combination saw the duo retire for another day.

McEvoy’s stablemate Leah Stack was next to go with the GBBS owned and bred mare Bp Hello Emerald (Emerald Van T Ruytershof x Hhs Br Charlton). They were clear over the fences but collected one fault for time which would see them finish in eventual fifth place.

Vincent Byrne riding Maddie Brennan and Rachel Moxham’s home-bred Belle Mai (Luidam x Furistos Trump) were third to go.

Fourth place finishers in the five-year-old final in 2024, all eyes were on them. They did not disappoint, producing a clear round to progress to the decider.

The next five contenders collected four faults apiece, including Wednesday’s qualifier winner, Lt Raphael Lee and Fortside Lisbaun (Sligo Candy Boy x Lux Z) bred by Padraig Arthur, and Thursday’s victors, Cathal Daniels riding Hans Jurgen Kuehnle’s home-bred Tullibards Pandora (Tullibards Benny’s Legacy x Grandeur).

Eoin Brennan and the home-bred Gcs Angelina (Aganix Du Seigneur x Vigo D’Arsouilles) then earned their spot with an impressive clear, while Harry Wood and Olga Doyle’s French-bred Juana Moussardiere (Andiamo Semilly x Kannan) also booked their place.

McEvoy provided the next clear with Bp Othello which meant just four went forward to the jump-off against the clock.

Jump-off

Byrne (Belle Mai) was first to go. He set the pace clear in 38.77, a miscommunication near the in-gate cost them valuable seconds, but the round was still good enough for the runner-up spot.

Brennan (Gcs Angelina) was second to go. They were up on time but a mistake at the second part of the double cost them four faults; their time of 36.17 put them into fourth place.

McEvoy (Bp Othello) was third in. An immaculate clear in 34.35 saw them shoot to the top of the table.

Last to go, Harry Wood (Moussardiere) fell foul of the same fence as Brennan, the second part of the double, they finished on four in a good time of 35.37 for third place.

Trish and Jack Moran were on hand to present McEvoy with the Michael Moran Memorial Trophy as the six-year-old ‘Cruising’ National Show Jumping Champion 2025.