O’Brien, who was narrowly defeated at Claremorris EC the day before with Minnie Clover, upped the ante to claim the lion’s share of the €2,500 on offer in the host-sponsored class.

His win temporarily places O’Brien at the head of the leaderboard on 42 points, just five points ahead of his closest rival, Conor McEneaney.

Pleased with the result, O’Brien said he had to pull out all the stops to win.

“I knew that Marion [Hughes] was going to be hard to beat, so I had no other choice but to take a chance. Ullrich is a very honest and careful horse so I just had to rely on him to answer the questions, which he did,” he said. “Marion set a tough challenge but I knew there was a bit of a window to make up the time coming to the last.”

He added: “The tour is becoming very competitive and it’s far from over. Yes, it would be great to take the title but there is very little between us all. This was a good weekend for me as I picked up 18 points for my efforts. The plan now is keep trying to deliver results to put pressure on the rest.”

By Emillion and out of a Concorde mare, Primadonna Van Het Rietven, Ullrich has been very consistent in the spring tour, recording a win at Kildare International and taking the runner-up spot at Ravensdale Lodge EC.

Course designer Noel Phelan set the challenge for the 35 starters, which saw just five progressed to the jump-off course. As was the case in Claremorris the day before, time was a factor in the first round, with both Sarah Lang riding Kingdom Warrior and Francis Connors riding Uskerety Diamond lady denied a place in the jump-off by a single time fault each. Connors crossed the line just fractions ahead of Lang, in a time of 71.09 seconds, to claim eventual sixth place.

The jump-off course posed no major problems, but those with a win in mind needed to take a sharp turn to the third fence, a triple bar, and to the penultimate oxer, before pushing on to the last, where time could again be made up.

Returning from a successful trip away in Dubai, Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes was keen to clock up a win on home soil. Pathfinder in the jump-off with HHS Flo, some clever riding saw her lodge a fast clear in 26.56 to take the early lead.

Next in, Nicholas Butler wasted no time with Queen Lux and, although the combination produced an impressive clear, they crossed the line just shy of Hughes’ time in 27.32.

Next to take it on for the ladies was Catriona Fallon, riding Nivitas Charge K. The Kildare-based rider posted another fast time of 26.92 but faulted at the penultimate oxer and had to settle for fifth place. Nivitas Charge K, by Luidam and out of Cruise Mistress was bred and produced by Knightfield Stud and has clocked up a series of placings at this level under Fallon’s command. The nine-year-old gelding was also campaigned by Antonia De Burgh and Nicholas Butler while Fallon was out of action due to injury.

Second last to go and with the class in hand at this point, Marion Hughes returned to the arena with her second mount, HHS Dublin. Once again Hughes put in a foot-perfect round, albeit in a slower time of 27.37, for eventual fourth.

Last to go with Ullrich, only Thomas O’Brien could demote Hughes from the leader’s position. No stranger to this type of pressure, O’Brien was quick to take the inside lines and a daring gallop to the last saw him clock 25.95 to claim the class. His time demoted Hughes into the runner-up spot and Butler to third place.

Earlier that day, the action in Ballinamona began with the 1.10m class, where Peter Moloney and Burrin Equestrian Rafiki took the honours with a clear in 21.10. Moloney also delivered a clear with Ballyconnery Wood in 23.57 for eventual fifth.

There was little between second and third places as Shane Moloney and Valtaire crossed the line clear in 21.83, just ahead of Edel Kelly and Delphi Flyer, clear in 21.90. Sean Kavanagh and Brookwood Supersonic accounted for fourth place in 23.40, while Leah Kent and Suttons Cross finished clear in 24.47 for sixth.

Jonathan Andrew got his day off to a good start by winning the 1.20m two-phase class. Riding The Hurricane, Andrew scorched home with nothing to add in 22.41. Peter Moloney claimed the runner-up spot with Ballyconnery Wood, clear in 23.08. Third place went to Jennifer Rea and Brecht Van De Romstee, clear in 23.33.

Local rider Paddy O’Donnell made slotted into fourth place with Lonot, clear in 23.48 and fifth with Kilfarissey Angel, clear in 23.60. Sean Kavanagh finished sixth with Brookwood Supersonic, clear in 23.96.

Delighted with the show, host Vahe Bogossian said that riders were delighted to be able to jump outdoors in ideal weather conditions after a long and wet winter.

“We had great jumping throughout the day and we are grateful to all those who conveyed their appreciation to us for sponsoring and running a leg of the spring tour,” he added.