Having been the bridesmaid in this class last year, and later in the day in the George Mernagh Memorial CIC***, it was fitting that British rider Millie Dumas should finally go one better to head the Connollys Red Mills CCI** U25.

Riding the Irish-bred Duke of Cavan, Dumas led the field of 27 from flag fall, completing on her opening score of 42.6. “I lost this class last year due to a time fault and I wasn’t going to let that happen again!” said the Somerset rider. “I was a bit worried though, as he has very little thoroughbred in him, but he finished well within the time. The course has been beefed up considerably from last year, but he’s a real machine – and so straight everywhere.” As his name suggests, The Duke of Cavan was sourced from Cavan sales as a four-year-old. Bred by Tommy Fitzpatrick, by Courage out of his Ricardo Z-sired mare Dysert Girl, the gelding spent his early days competing with his current owner Natalie Stevens.