TO win a championship at the RDS with a home-bred is always very special, and it was particularly so when Point Up landed the four-year-old division for staunch owner/breeder and eventing supporter Bridget McGing.

Ridden by Ian Cassells, the grey filly impressed on both days, pulling up to lead the field from fifth place overnight. A beautifully-bred daughter of the former world young horse champion Upsilon (CCI4*) out of the CCI3* event mare Diamond Pointe (Pointilliste), she was foot-perfect in the Main Arena and, despite her lack of experience, remained in her rhythm and appeared completely unfazed.

“We’ve done very little with her,” said a delighted Cassells. “Just a couple of shows, then her qualifiers.

"She’s quite weak still and I wasn’t sure the class would suit her, but luckily it did!

"I’m not quite sure of any future plans, but as Bridget is the organiser of the age group championship in Ballindenisk, she’ll probably head there.”

Veterinary surgeon McGing is one of the back bones of the sport and, as a breeder, has been very successful. Among her many home-bred stars is the current European long-listed Master Point (also ridden by Cassells), while the highly-rated Inquisitor (CCI3*), who was recently sold to American rider Heidi Coy, counts as a sibling to the dam of Point Up.

Following Wednesday’s assessment of conformation, dressage and jumping, less than two marks separated the top eight overnight. As a result, Thursday’s jumping phase was to prove strongly influential and a fence on the floor would prove expensive.

Thoroughbred influence

Leaders Johnny Steele and Clonagoose Romeo increased their chances when smartly jumping one of 10 clear rounds, but when the maths were done and the thoroughbred mark allotted, they slipped to second.

This was nevertheless a good performance by the Sandra Hamilton and Janet Hall-owned gelding who, bred by James Kavanagh and sourced from Shane Dalton as a three-year-old, was by Canturado out of Tankardstown Gold Dust (Lancelot).

As always, some four-year-olds coped with the main ring atmosphere better than others. The fancied Inisfree Chapo (Ciara O’Connor) showed greenness at the double of hedges, while the well-placed Sportsfield Forever was another who failed to complete. The narrow hedges proved quite tricky for these baby horses, as did the rustic combination near the pocket.

It’s an ill wind however, and O’Connor’s departure benefited Swedish native Sara Lundkvist who, double-handed, piloted Sportsfield Cool as Ice and Sportsfield Luna into fourth and fifth. The Paul Donovan-owned, Coolkeeran-sired duo both jumped clear rounds, as did the sixth placed Milchem Giovanni (Jason Doerflinger).

Scoring highly from all three judges, but hampered by a low thoroughbred percentage, Ralph Conroy’s eye-catching Giovanni (by Tyson) impressed with his jumping ability, his athleticism and his attitude.