CIARA O’Connor, who won the Junior/Young Riders’ event horse class at Dublin for the past two years, is bang on form to repeat her victory last August on Ashwood Rio judging by her clear-cut success in Section A of the final qualifier at Rincoola on Tuesday.

O’Connor amassed 306 marks on her aunt Sharon O’Connor’s home-bred seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Ashwood Rio (Dignified van’t Zorgvliet - Pikeur, by Ramiro B) but, as the combination had previously qualified at Forth Mountain, they weren’t awarded one of the two precious golden tickets on offer.

The first of these went to the James Doyle-bred Traditional ISH gelding Ballymurphy George (Pointilliste - Ballymurphy Clover Nellie, by Clover Hill) who, second on 297.5, was ridden by Jane Fitzgerald for her mother Laura. Fitzgerald and the bay recorded their best result of the 2026 Eventing Ireland season when third of 18 in the DAFM EI100 class for six-year-olds at Lisgarvan House in April.

The second ticket went to the third-placed Innisfree Chapo (290.5), who was ridden for JJ Bowe by his son Michael, who will be kept busy at Dublin. The five-year-old chesnut ISH gelding by Kannan was bred by Frank Creaven out of the Camillo VDL mare, CSF Millie.

In Section B, the first ticket went to the winner, Gailes Lucky Charm (294.5), who was ridden for Cherry Hally by her daughter Ailbhe. The seven-year-old ISH mare, who was bred by Becky Ryan, is by the deceased thoroughbred stallion Tayari out of the Irish Draught mare Bluestone Shadow (by Rebel Mountain).

Kate Horgan finished second on her mother Hannah’s previously-qualified seven-year-old ISH gelding Highview Shakespeare (292.5), who was fourth in the final last August. This left a delighted Rebecca Fletcher to pick up the second ticket on Natalie McKenna’s ISH mare Lagan’s OBOS Premier (292.5). The OBOS Quality 004 bay, who also qualified last year, was bred by Peter Rice out of the Cavalier Land mare, Lagans Leo.

The Junior/Young Rider event horse class at Dublin will be judged by England-based Irish international event rider Padraig McCarthy, Britain’s Jane Tuckwell and Germany’s Hans Melzer.