NEW Zealand’s Tim Price became the first rider to complete back-to-back five-star wins at Pau with Jarillo last Sunday, edging out both Britain’s Bubby Upton and his wife Jonelle Prize (NZL) to win the seventh five-star of his career.

Second after dressage on 25.7, the defending champions moved up to the overnight lead with a fast cross-country clear, adding just 5.2 time penalties. In a high pressure final show jumping round, where a pole would have dropped him off the podium, Jarillo rattled a pole, but the rail landed back in its cups for an outstanding double win.

“I was nervous before I went out onto the course,” Price said. “I couldn’t find the rhythm I wanted. But as Bubby said, that’s why we ride top-class horses - we have a special bond with them. Today, I didn’t really help him; if anything, he was the one who helped me. Everyone - the riders, the grooms and the owners - agrees that Pau is the best way to round off the season.”

The 11-year-old gelding Its Cooley Time (ISH), bred in Kilkenny by Ennisnag Stud and ridden by Bubby Upton, helped the young British rider to the best result of her five-star career when finishing second. The combination were eighth after dressage on 29.3 and stormed around Saturday’s cross-country for just 3.6 time penalties, which saw them rise to second. A superb jumping clear on Sunday cemented their podium place on just their second attempt at the level.

By Quality Time out of Arabella (Heartbreaker), It’s Cooley Time won the four-star long at Bramham. The result was redemption for a fall on course 12 months ago. “Last year, I let him down in the cross-country. This year, I did him justice and we achieved the result we’d been hoping for,” said an ecstatic Bubby.

“This is only his second CCI5*. When people see him in the dressage arena, they think he won’t jump well. And when they see him jumping, they realise he’s actually a proper jumper!

“It’s an absolute joy to have him in my stable. All his co-owners were here today and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. We’re very proud of him and I feel this is just the beginning. I have a small stable compared to other riders because I insist on riding them all myself. I know them all inside out. I believe this connection is what enables me to handle difficult situations. I’ve been through a tough time and without them - without my horses - I wouldn’t be here today.”

Jonelle Price guided Senor Crocodillo to third on 34.6, also jumping clear on the final day, just ahead of husband Tim, who also finished fourth with Happy Boy (35.9).

The Patrick Doddy-bred Piltown Concorde (ISH) finished in an impressive sixth place with Lizzie Baugh (GBR). There were five Irish-bred horses in the top 20, with Mister Big Ears (ISH)[TIH], bred by Michael Byrne, finishing 13th with Sam Ecroyd (GBR), Carpo Vivendi (ISH), bred by Kevin Barry, in 14th with Jack Pinkney (GBR), and MHS Seventeen (ISH), bred by Mary Brennan, in 17th with Rosalind Canter (GBR).

Tough day

The Pau cross-country was extremely influential, with just 18 clears from 49 runners, a 37% clear rate, while 67% of the field did complete. There were no clears inside the time, with Tim Price coming closest on Happy Boy with just 3.2 time faults.

Irish hopes ended when both Joseph Murphy (Calmaro) and Sarah Ennis (Dourough Ferro Class Act) were eliminated on course. Murphy had a rider fall at fence 10.

Ninth after dressage, Ennis and Dourough Ferro Class Act fell at fence six, but in an update said: “I just wanted to reassure everyone that Larry and I are both absolutely fine after our fall, apart from a few minor bruises. [It is] So disappointing not to have finished, but thankfully we’re both okay, which is the main thing. We know we’ve got the dressage and we know he can jump, so hopefully one day it’ll all come together! We’ll be back next season ready to give it another go.”

Other high-profile fallers included the dressage leader Emily King and Valmy Biats (24.5). They looked to be cruising on their minute markers when the 17-year-old gelding ran out at the skinny after the drop at fence 24b and Emily then retired.