THE 2026 Stepping Stones to Success series got under way on Tuesday at Wexford Equestrian Centre, where league points won’t be on offer until week three, but where there will be an added incentive for producers of four and five-year-old horses to qualify for the final at the end of the month.

At the Tomhaggard venue on Tuesday, April 28th, Goresbridge Sport Horse Sales will award two wildcard entries to their inaugural Copper Beach Sale of four and five-year-old eventers and show jumpers, which is to take place at their sales complex on Monday, May 25th. Selection days for the sale were held on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

To qualify for the final, potential sales horses must complete one qualifier and must complete the Viewing Day qualifier on Tuesday, April 21st. In addition, to be considered for a wildcard entry, horses must complete on finals day. For further details, owners and/or producers should contact Orla Roche at Wexford Equestrian.

While rugs for the winners were on offer in all four sections on Tuesday, plus cash in three, Childèric Saddles, long-term sponsors of the four-year-old and five-year-old classes, have increased their support for the series by presenting a custom-made Childèric bridle worth €500 to the winners of both young horse classes at each qualifier.

Delighted

Despite picking up four penalties in the Derby Arena, the delighted winner of Tuesday’s four-year-old class was Co Meath’s Nicola Ennis with Gemma Quinn’s Candy Pop (Sligo Candy Boy - Flagmount Girl, by Rebel Flagmount) who was bred in Co Galway by Thomas Howley. Ennis finished sixth on this grey mare in the four-year-old DAFM development series class at Killossery Lodge Stud on March 1st.

Locally-based Ciaran Moran of MK Sport Horses won the five-year-old qualifier having completed on his Mark Ruddock-awarded dressage score with the Dutch Warmblood mare Rebel SE (Le Blue Diamond van’t Ruytershof - Toberlina H, by Matterhorn).

“We bought her in The Netherlands as an unbroken three-year-old,” related Moran. “Once we got her broken, we didn’t do a whole lot with her last year as she quite weak. She spent a lot of time in the field, but is ready to step up now. Tuesday was her first real competition and we’ll see how she comes out of the Stepping Stones before making any other plans for her.”

Sophie Orr claimed the honours in the Doagh Equestrian event pony class with Allan Seery’s five-year-old Connemara gelding Aughnasilla Pat (Western Boy - Cailín Críonna, by Boden Park Finnard) The Declan Murphy-bred grey contested some breed classes last season.

On a penalty score of 25, Hannah Gayer fared best in the Treo Eile-sponsored thoroughbred to competition horse class with Advena (Lawman - Teacht An Earraig, by Galileo), who she evented here in 2020 and 2021. Bred by Jim Bolger, the 13-year-old bay gelding finished well down the field in a bumper and two hurdle races in the autumn of 2018.

Sarah-Jane Doyle judged the dressage phase in the pony and thoroughbred classes.