WORLD silver medallist eventer Padraig McCarthy has welcomed Mark Todd’s Leonidas II to his stable following the New Zealand rider’s retirement from the sport.

The 15-year-old Landos-sired gelding, who is owned by Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell, was seventh individually at the 2019 Rio Olympic Games. Under Todd, he has competed at five Badminton Horse Trials, finishing fourth in 2015 and 2016, and sixth in 2017.

“I am very excited,” McCarthy told The Irish Field on Friday. “I went up to Mark’s on Monday and had a sit on him. I had a chat with Mark and he helped me a little. He is obviously a lovely horse to ride after being educated by Mark Todd.”

McCarthy will have his first run with the gelding next weekend in Somerford Park, and after that, Irish riders might get the chance to see them in Millstreet. “We are going to get straight into it. He is just back running after some time off so we are going to take him to an open intermediate in Somerford next week.

“All going well, we have taken the plunge and entered him in the four-star in Millstreet, providing we have a good start. We would love to get him qualified to do a five-star next year,” McCarthy said.

Asked about aiming towards next summer’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, he added: “To be honest, we are not making a big plan at the moment. Because he has come back from injury, we will get him up and running and see how he is. He was obviously very good in Camphire recently and he has proven that he has been very very good at Badminton.”

Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell, alongside Nick Boyle, also own McCarthy’s new mount Fallulah, a 10-year-old Fidertanz mare on who he had his first run with at Camphire two weeks ago.

“I am very fortunate, we are very excited about her. Every time we get a new owner it’s great for the stable and hopefully for Team Ireland.”

His WEG double silver medal-winning mount Mr Chunky is on the road to recovery after tweaking a suspensory at Badminton in May.

“Mr Chunky’s rehab is going very well. His plan now is to move from to where he is in Kent to Henrietta Knight’s stable to get his canter work going. We are following same regime as when he did his tendon in 2016, this injury isn’t as significant,” McCarthy added.