SATURDAY’S 1.35m Balmoral qualifier in Cavan was won by Niamh O’Connor Barry aboard her own 11-year-old gelding Drumiller Vegas (Cardento x Rockhill Clover), bred by Paul Dillon.

Held as a two-phase competition, O’Connor Barry used the advantage of her late draw to plan her second-round route carefully. This resulted in her stopping the clock in a very fast 31.35, almost two seconds faster than her closest rival.

That rival was Hallie Crowe aboard her own eight-year-old Dutch-bred Nikita (Falaise De Muze x Indorado), they crossed the finish in 33.31 to claim the runner-up spot.

Grand Prix winners Jack Ryan and Calgrafi Dwb had the perfect warm-up for the next day when they broke the beams in 33.36 for third place, while Aidan O’Brien rode Daniel Coyle’s stallion Gisborne VDL (Zirocco Blue VDL x Goodtimes) to a double clear in 33.50 for fourth.

Young rider Emily Moloney rode the Mary McCann-bred and Keonan Stables-owned Clovalent (Valent x Cruising) into fifth place, double clear in 33.8.

Completing the line-up in sixth place was junior Jack Cash aboard Jolene Cash’s gelding Candy (Indoctro x Burggraaf) in 34.13.

1.30m

A second qualifier for the Balmoral Show, the 1.30m six and seven-year-old class also took place in Cavan on Saturday and attracted a strong start list of 75 combinations.

On this occasion, it was Dylan Ward who came out on top with Quality Sport Horses’ seven-year-old stallion Lagans Candy Boy (Sligo Candy Boy x Quick Star), bred by Peter Rice. Once again, the duo had the advantage of being late to go and used this to prepare a second round, which would secure them the win in a time of 32.20.

Second place went to Katie Nallon riding her family’s six-year-old stallion Bouncers Hero (Ganesh Hero Z x Diamond Roller). They stopped the clock just slightly slower in 32.40.

Gene Ormiston’s home-bred mare Cherrymount Sixty (A. Umonia 60 x Welcome Diamond) was then steered to a double clear by Tatianna Ormiston in 32.68 for third place.

Sophie Richards and the seven-year-old gelding Top Gun Vd Bisschop (Comme D’Api Vd Hacienda Z x Heartbreaker), owned by the rider and Maurice Cousins, slotted into fourth with a double clear in 33.60.

The Ballypatrick-bred six-year-old BP Rioja (Numero Uno x Plot Blue), ridden by Senan Reape and owned by Cathal McMunn and Jonathan Reape, broke the beams in 33.87 for fifth place, while Ben Walsh and Ronan McLaughlin’s Dutch-bred mare Orette H (Falaise De Muze x Coreland) took sixth in 34.34.