THE Fagan family had plenty to celebrate early on Thursday morning, when young rider squad member Chloe secured the junior/young rider event title by a healthy margin. Adding to the feat, Chloe achieved this accolade riding her father Mark’s home-bred Deravarra Rise N Shine, a seven-year-old gelding she has produced throughout.

The Mullingar-based combination were placed sixth in the same class 12 months ago, but this time around they led the competition from flag fall. Posting a clear lead overnight, and capitalising on this, the duo did tip a brick out of the ‘bookcase’ in the main arena, but were nevertheless awarded the highest mark on the final day. “He’s come out a much stronger horse this year,” said Chloe, who juggles her horses with her studies at DCU. “It’s a real family effort, so I must thank my parents Mark and Deryn, my twin sister Robyn and the entire team.”

Carrying plenty of experience for his age, the son of Caricello (out of a thoroughbred mare) competed in Europe last summer, winning a CCI* at San Quentin in France, and placed third at the Dutch fixture in Kronenburg. This win marks the start of a busy campaign for Chloe who, having represented Ireland at every age level, has just been selected (with her second horse Compte Ligniere) for the forthcoming young rider European championships in Italy.

As Chloe’s team mate on this upcoming trip, Godfrey Gibbons retained his second placing with DS Conn Boy. Owned by Liam Lynskey, who was to progress to enjoy continued success in the subsequent classes, Conn Boy is by Lynskey’s own stallion DS Are You With Me out of Portroe Girl (Silvano). Like the winner, the Michael Barrett-bred bay also carried four penalties, but was super smooth in his round in general. Another fluent performance came from Sadie McMahon, who having rolled a pole with Creevagh Hilfiger, completed in third ahead of Jasper Kelly and Agatha Raisin. Kelly can also count among the unluckiest of the 15 runners, as looking to be enjoying a good round, omitted a fence with Twentypark Amber Lady.

Since the change of format, this is a much-improved class with plenty of attractive riding and talented horses.