“HE’S the horse of a lifetime,” said Rosie Alcorn of her home-bred Chrysanthos, after the combination won the EI115 (Open) at Flowerhill. The pair lay second after dressage and, when early leaders Suzanne Hagan and Karolita O added penalties in both jumping phases, they were left at the top of the leaderboard. Cathal Daniels took second with CDS Maple Syrup on the seven-year-old’s first run at this level, while Jonathan Steele was third with John Simpson’s traditionally-bred Somerville Springheeled.

Alcorn’s attention will now turn towards Scone Palace International Horse Trials, where she aims to contest the CCI4*-S with Chrysanthos at the end of the month. “We made that decision at nine o’clock this morning,” laughed Alcorn. “We’re supposed to be doing up a house and putting in a new kitchen, but my husband Mick pointed out that you never know when a horse might go lame or have a problem, and when we have a sound horse, we need to make the most of it. Mick groomed for me with four horses on Sunday and kept them all rolling out - he’s not a bad husband really!”

Young rider Caitlin Woods topped the standings in the eight-runner EI115 on a total score of 27.7 riding the seven-year-old Greygrove Delight. Luca Bortolamei led after dressage here having scored 25.9 with Cassalla Z, but one fence down and some cross-country time penalties dropped the combination to eventual fourth. Jane McLean and McLeans Dream Catcher rose from fifth after dressage to second, while Cathal Daniels added another podium placing to his tally when third with Queen of Nosa Z.

Nicky Roncoroni and Carrigshawn Ebony chalked up their third win of the season in the EI110 at Flowerhill, when they finished on their dressage score of 26.5. They shared the lead after the first phase with Amanda Goldsbury and ESI Lincoln, but when that combination added penalties in both jumping phases they dropped out of contention. Jane Fitzgerald and Ballymurphy Hughie rose from fifth after the first phase to eventual second on 28.5 by virtue of a double clear, while Ballindenisk CCI1*-Intro winners, Lesley Jones and Quality Choice, took third on 30.8.

The four competitors who completed in the EI110 (Open) all kept clean sheets throughout the jumping phases, and Alyssa O’Neill led from the front to take the win with DS Candescent.