AFTER a successful winter season based with Les Moorhouse in the North of England, Madeline Allen signed off with a coveted ticket to the Royal International Horse Show when Daroento VDL finished second in the winter B&C qualifier at Morris Equestrian Centre, Scotland.

“He had a busy summer last year, so I gave him a break and brought him over (to England) in January to get him fit. It was a big track and we were early to go in the jump-off so we had to cut where we could, but he always does the job when you get him to a fence,” said Allen.

The Cork rider bought the Cardento eight-year-old at Cavan sales five years ago.

Allen has steadily worked the stallion up to 1.35m Grand Prix level at home, their 2015 highlights including placing second in the young riders at Millstreet International last August.

Allen proved to be one of the busiest riders at this winter classic show and she made her mark in the major classes.

Riding Les Moorhouse’s Hamilton H, Allen finished first, second and sixth respectively in three keenly fought 1.30m and 1.40m competitions.

“We’ve had a really good run since October and before I left to come home, he was top of the silver league,” explained Allen, who celebrated her birthday in fine style here when the Irish-bred Hamilton headed a blanket finish in the opening 1.30m.

“He’s very quick and careful and we kept everything neat and tidy all the way,” said Allen, who narrowly missed a second (1.30m) victory a day later where she was pipped by Reece Oliver (Urlanmore Aldi).

Allen added to her ribbon haul with the five-year-old Irish-bred Harmonizer who finished fifth in his opening 1.15m class warm up class before nudging a rail past the point of no return in the hotly contested barrage in the SEIB winter novice (Royal International) to finish ninth overall.

“He’s jumped a lot of double clears and he’s stepping up nicely. After having an early rail down, we kept up the pace,” reflected Allen, who returns to England this weekend to compete at Bishop Burton College.

NEW JOB FOR O’CONNOR

Following a spell with Team Breen at Hickstead and working in America, Aoife O’Connor is now well settled into her new job at the Billy Stud riding horses for William and Pippa Funnell.

“There is a huge selection of nice young horses to ride here. They are all hugely talented and very well bred for the job,” said O’Connor.

The Kildare rider was out and about recently and won a good Foxhunter competition at Pyecombe riding the Billy Mexico six-year-old Billy Fresco.

After previously earning three places at Felbridge and Parwood Equestrian Centre, O’Connor upped the pace at Pyecombe and the mare responded well.

“She’s a real clear round machine and is proving very competitive,” said O’Connor.

More ribbons followed when the Danish-bred six-year-old Caramini finished sixth in the newcomers.

Although busy with stud work with natural service and lots of mares in to foal down, Ken Ashe managed to get out to Crofton Manor where Cornet Obolensky Junior finished second in the newcomers.

Ashe previously rode the son of Cornet Obolensky last year before selling the 10-year-old to one of his pupils Brittany Hocquard, but as Brittany is currently studying, Ashe is keeping the German-bred gelding ‘ticking over’.

“It was a decent jump-off and I set the pace early on but was overtaken by one of the last riders in,” said Ashe.

The Southampton-based rider was also well in contention for top spot in the 1.30m but ultimately finished third with the Irish-bred stallion Urlanmore Cavalier who is by Ricardo Z out of Cavaliers Delight , a mare by Cavalier Royale.

“This wee horse is as quick as lightning and he’s so careful,” said Ashe.

Eoin Gallagher continues to strike up a good rapport with Dermott Lennon’s Irish-bred Lux Z 11-year-old Corbeagh Luxor who recently won at Bishop Burton before travelling on to Solihull’s winter classic where they finished seventh in a strong 1.40m.

“We were travelling well at Solihull and were well in contention until having a late rail down in the jump-off,” reflected Gallagher. He travels to Bishop Burton this weekend before taking five horses to Lanaken next week.

Keith Doyle continues to add to his ribbon haul with Geddes and Fidelio being placed recently at Addington Manor.

Many riders are concentrating on getting young horses out and about and Michael Duffy took several out for their first outing at Felbridge.

While top jockey at Oakingham Stud, Roger McCrea is just back from Oliva Nova and is off to Arezzo shortly, it is down to Cork riders Blayne Sheehan and Shane O’Reilly to keep the rising stars at home well up to the mark and they will be getting some youngsters out very shortly.

McCrea is aiming to use Pyecombe as his first big show on the home circuit before heading to Royal Windsor in May.