IT has been a while since this writer contacted Cathal Daniels regarding an Eventing Ireland win so I was pleased to do so following his success with CDS Cairnview Romolu in the eight-runner EI115 (Open) at Rosanna on Saturday.

While lying third after dressage on 22.5 penalties, Daniels was still some way adrift of the flat stage winner, Clare Abbott, who was on 15.7 with Mr Mighty. Disappointingly, but not for the first time, that Gatcombe nine-year-old blotted his copybook in the show jumping ring – picking up eight penalties – and was then one of four horses (all entered at Millstreet this weekend) who were withdrawn before the cross-country phase.

Daniels had no reservations about the ground for his Irish Sport Horse gelding CDS Cairnview Romolu who was having just his second start of the season, and the first at this level, as the bay’s planned 2023 debut at Tyrella (3) had been stymied by transport problems.

“I was very happy with the cross-country and very pleased with my horse’s performance,” said the Curragh-based Daniels who, this Bank Holiday weekend is splitting his time between Millstreet, where he rides Rioghan Rua in the CCIO4*-NC-S and may have a couple of horses in the National Discovery finals, and the CSI2* at Mullingar.

“I’m very conscious that I am in the lucky position of having some very nice event horses and some jumpers with real potential,” said Daniels who is due to compete CDS Cairnview Romolu, a 12-year-old Omar gelding, in the CCI4*-S at Luhmühlen (June 15th to 18th). “He might have a run at Michael McNally’s (Clonmahon House) before then.”

With 8.8 cross-country time penalties, Daniels and CDS Cairnview Romolu (35.3) ran out narrow winners on Saturday ahead of Casey Webb and Cecil Bready (36.1), who were clear within the time, while Patrick Whelan finished third on Denis Finch Hatton (39.3) whose total included 13.2 cross-country time penalties. All three horses had a fence down show jumping.

Whelan picked up eight show jumping penalties in the six-strong Mercedes Ireland EI115 with Paul Donovan’s Dermish Chill but, with just 4.4 cross-country time penalties, took the win on 41.7.

The only other finisher was Suzanne Hagan on Loughview Commander whose total of 50.8 included 22.4 for time on the final leg.

Three combinations withdrew before cross-country including the dressage winners on 19.1, Sarah Ennis on Stellor Deelite. The winner, a seven-year-old Chillout gelding Dermish Chill, was having his fourth start of the season on Saturday.