THE husband and wife team of Patricia and Michael Ryan dominated the proceedings in the ISH six-year-old sector to land the top three places in this latest edition. Teaming up with Tom and Carol Henry’s The Caped Crusader (by Nazar), Patricia opened with a commanding lead (26.8), and adding nothing further completed nearly five points ahead of Michael, who was double-handed with the second-placed Gurtera Jimmy Clover and Liscarrow Hugo in third. The winner, who was sourced as a three-year-old from his breeder Barbara Hatton (at the Monart sale) is aimed for Camphire, and is according to his rider, “a very genuine, straightforward horse who loves his job.”

The cross-country had no influence in either this class or the five-year-old equivalent, so largely in dressage order, the top spot in the latter fell to Adam Haugh with Tullymurray Fifi. It had been a mixed day for Haugh, who in two freaky incidences hit the deck twice over the course of the day. He made up for it however, as the mare Fifi, who having won two legs, now stands just behind Camilla Speirs (BT Juste Capitane) in the current standings. In second place, Fraser Duffy (Fernhill Kilbunny) are also clocking up points, while in third spot Caoimhe Eivers added her name to the rankings with It Ain’t Simple.