IAN Cassells is forsaking the world of eventing for that of show jumping this weekend although, from looking at his results at Frankfort Stud last Sunday, he didn’t fare too badly in that phase.

From five rides at the Co Wexford venue, Cassells recorded three clear rounds inside the time. The first was in the Overlander EI110 (Open), where he completed on his David Lee-awarded winning dressage score (29.5 penalties) with Pat and Claire Duffy’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Peak Freestyler (Freestyle van de Wolfsakker - Olympic Pride, by Olympic Lux).

Cassells and the Thomas Breen-bred six-year-old finished second of 32 in the CCIYH2* for six and seven-year-old horses at the Lisgarvan House International last August. James O’Haire was a second over the time over the coloured poles en route to securing second place with the eight-year-old ISH mare Silk Chiffon (30.4), while Joseph Murphy recorded a double clear inside the time on the 10-year-old ISH mare My Foxhall Kit (30.5) for third. Three of the nine starters failed to complete.

Cassells claimed the honours in the Overlander EI110 with Bridget Speirs’s home-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding BT Just Special (I’m Special de Muze - Chitter Chatter, by Robin Des Pres) who, on his second EI start, completed on his winning dressage score (25.5). Much-beribboned in young event horse classes over the past two seasons when ridden by Diarmuid Ryan, the six-year-old holds an entry in the EI110 at Tyrella 3 on Saturday, April 18th.

John Tilley, whose horses are also in good form, finished second on his Jill Spring-awarded flat work mark with the six-year-old ISH gelding Borris Cornet Coole (26.5). Cassells looked booked for third until Fernhill Pop Ice decided to add 12 show jumping penalties to his first phase score and then picked up 8.4 time-penalties on the final leg for a total of 49.4. Sian Coleman moved up into the vacated spot on the traditional ISH gelding Rock Festival (31.3), who jumped a double clear inside the time.

Niamh Verkade and Duniro won the EI110 J class at the Frankfort 1 ODE \ Tony Walker Photography

All-the-way win

Also at this level, Niamh Verkade saw off 10 rivals to win the Junior class on Mary Horgan’s ISH gelding Duniro, a 13-year-old dun son of Abbeyfield Comet, while, despite lowering one show jump, Anna Radford recorded an all-the-way win in the five-strong EI110 (P) with her mother Maria’s Essenar Double Dutch, a 15-year-old ISH mare by Luidam. This combination won the EI100 (P) at Tyrella the previous weekend.

Having been awarded a score of 27 penalties by Vicky Clooey, south Co Dublin-based Cassells brought up a hat-trick in the Foran Equine EI100, where he again led throughout on Nuala Prendergast’s newcomer MJS Flame Racer (Pointilliste - Lowhill MJS, by Carrick Diamond Lad). Bred in Co Wicklow by Jenni Lamminen, the chesnut was led out unsold at €8,000 at the 2023 September Sale in Goresbridge. His dam is a full-sister to Lowhill Showdown (1.50m).

Here, Anna Stillwell finished second with the seven-year-old Holstein gelding Carto 8 (28), who, too was making his EI debut. Manvendra Singh finished third with the six-year-old ISH gelding Belline Baron Barbados (28.8). Two of the 30 starters in this class were eliminated for rider falls.

There was one elimination in the show jumping ring in the 15-runner Overlander EI100 (J) won by Isla Coad on her mother Carol’s Lollypop, a six-year-old Cormint mare registered with the Warmblood Studbook of Ireland, and three in the same phase in the Kehoe Brothers Machinery EI100 (P) where, on her second start under EI rules, Elsa Walsh recorded her first success on her mother Gillian’s 10-year-old Connemara mare Ardnehue Red Robin.