THE NutriScience CCI3*-S was the busiest class of the weekend, attracting the largest entry, but it was Kevin McNab and Lord Ludo (KWPN) who proved untouchable, leading from start to finish. The competitive nature of the class saw the top three all finishing on their dressage scores.

The nine-year-old gelding, by Grandorado TN, opened with a smart dressage mark of 25.3 before producing two immaculate clears in the show jumping and cross-country phases. That consistency left them on their first-phase score and handed McNab a commanding victory.

“Lord Ludo only recently stepped up to this level and I’m delighted with how he performed all weekend,” said McNab. “The team at Lisgarvan did excellent work on the footing – it’s really appreciated by riders. The courses were very educational and I think my horse will have learnt plenty.”

Runner-up honours went to Joseph Murphy with the ever-reliable Barberstown Castle Rehy, owned by Amanda Torrens and Austin O’Callaghan. The 14-year-old Ars Vivendi gelding once again showed his trademark consistency, finishing on his dressage score of 28.1 to collect a third podium placing at this level this season, adding to two national wins earlier in the year.

This placing earned Murphy the title of NutriScience EI115 National Champion 2025 as the highest placed Irish rider in the class.

Just behind in third place came Robbie Kearns and the Irish Sport Horse Belline Thistle Bethelasttime, bred in Co Kilkenny. They, too, completed on their dressage score of 28.3 to secure a podium spot in a closely-fought class.

Molly O’Neill and Muckridge Quick Step (ISH) impressed the Ground Jury - Les Smith (GBR), Paula Geiger (IRL) and Vanda Stewart (IRL) - with a mark of 28.7 in the dressage, but show jumping penalties proved expensive and they slipped outside the eventual top 10.

Climbing steadily up the order was Steven Smith with Strangford (ISH). After a dressage score of 33.1, the eight-year-old gelding by Luidam kept a clean slate in both jumping phases to finish fourth. Smith also filled fifth place with Ella Boyle’s Samiro Cruze MC, adding just four faults to their opening 30.0.

Rounding out the top six were Rosie Alcorn and Chrysanthos. Sitting fourth after dressage, they were unfortunate to add four time penalties on the cross country, which dropped them to sixth in the final standings.