NIAMH McEvoy won her fifth Plusvital Premier Grand Prix of 2025 in Tattersalls last Sunday. The remarkable young rider guided the Keith Ennis-owned Olympic GI Fvd, an 11-year-old Belgian-bred gelding into the top spot as the fastest of only three double clears in the 26-combination strong class.

She has now won five of the six Premiers this season. Speaking after her win, McEvoy told The Irish Field: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the win. I think I made up the time from one to two where I did the eight strides, it was usually a nine. My horse has a really big stride, maybe I was a bit quicker to the last fence also.

“The track was tricky. The treble was quite difficult and the double towards the end caught a few out. It was well built. They always run a great show at Tattersalls. The ground was in excellent condition and all the courses were good. It was lovely to get on the grass going into Dublin.”

This result guaranteed McEvoy her place at the internationals in Dublin as the Plusvital Premier league leader on 27 points after Tattersalls, but it transpired that she had already earned a place due to her international duties this year, the place then transferred to the next in line, Susan Fitzpatrick on 25 points. Third on the league table, Cathal Daniels (22 points), also earned a place in the internationals.

McEvoy has a busy week ahead at the RDS: “I’m not 100% sure of the horses I’m bringing for the internationals yet, I’ll take Olympic GI Fvd anyway, but nothing else is confirmed just yet.

"I’m bringing eight youngsters; two for every class, but it’s a good week to be busy so I’m delighted.

“My groom Lisa Bushaway won the groom’s prize at Tattersalls, so that was really nice and Max O’Reilly Hyland’s Rocket Warrior was second. He is such a fantastic horse and they bred him so that makes it more special. That’s us done for now. We will take this week to prepare and pack for Dublin.”

Proper 1.50m

Course designer Tom Holden set them a strong 13-obstacle 1.50m track. Commenting before the class, he said it was a “proper 1.50m, the equivalent of a two-star international Grand Prix” and he was confident that with the top level field he had, along with the superb grass arena at Tattersalls, it would be the perfect preparation for the Dublin Horse Show.

Supported by The Underwriting Exchange and Showjumping Ireland to the tune of €20,000, this was the penultimate round of the Premier Series. Just seven of the 26 starters produced a clear first round to progress to the timed decider. Five had one fence down, six had two on the ground, while five more collected 12 faults.

Pathfinder in the jump-off was league leader Susan Fitzpatrick aboard her own German-bred gelding Valisco PS (Vivant x Chacco Blue). Runners-up in Maryville in July, a third place in Cavan in June and another third in Mullinger in May saw them at the top of the leader board with 22 points heading into the round in Tattersalls.

A clear first round was followed by a disappointing two refusals in the jump-off and retirement which relegated them to seventh place in the final line-up. This still earned them two league points bringing their total to 24 and the runner-up spot in the series which gave them a place in Dublin.

Second to go in the decider was Gemma Phelan riding Baden Powell’s home-bred gelding Curraghraigue Jack Bro (Orestus x Errigal Flight). An unlucky error at the second part of the double in what turned out to be the fastest time of the day of 51.06 saw them claim fourth place.

Third in was Jonathan Smyth aboard Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig’s Mulvin Lui (Luidam x Baron de Chantepie). Two fences down in 51.26 left them in sixth place.

Cathal Daniels and the ever-reliable Cappog Tomy (Camiro De Haar Z x S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe) then moved up in the order to facilitate Fitzpatrick who had two horses in the jump-off. They delivered the first double clear of the class stopping the clock at 55.02 to go into the lead.

Fitzpatrick was fifth to go with her second mount, the German mare Lovely Stassi PS (London x Stakkotol). Four faults collected at fence six in quite a cautious time of 54.28 left them in fifth place.

McEvoy was next aboard Olympic GI Fvd. A foot-perfect round in 51.70 put them into the lead with just one rider to go. Last in was Max O’Reilly Hyland riding his own very talented home-bred gelding Rock Warrior (Casalla La Silla x Castor). A superb double clear round in a time of 52.63 slotted them into second place just behind their Ballypatrick stablemates.

The next and final round of the Premier Series, which will decide the National Champion, takes place at the Irish Breeders’ Championships in Barnadown on Sunday, August 31st.