“I DO think my horse is the best eight-year-old in the country,” stated Declan Cullen following his win on Ultimate Quality in one of the country’s rare Advanced classes at Castle Irvine, Necarne last Saturday.

Cullen had two rides in the seven-strong class, Ultimate Quality who jumped a double clear and, with 22 cross-country time penalties, won on 51.8, and Seavaghan Ash who, having led after the David Lee-judged dressage phase on 27.6, lowered a pole and had a run-out late on the cross-country track. With 29.2 time penalties, that 13-year-old Glenhill Gold gelding finished third on 80.8.

Co Wicklow veterinary surgeon Michael O’Toole had a pole down in the walled garden with First Obama but then was clear across the country and, in a quicker time than the winner (15.2 penalties), to place second on 56.6.

“He’s won two Novice classes, two Intermediates and now his first Advanced and he’s just eight,” Cullen continued about his OBOS Quality 004 gelding. “He won the first of his Intermediates on heavy ground here in May and now he’s won here again on good ground. I was really pleased with Seavaghan Ash as well; he just reacted too quickly to my hand.

“The going on Saturday was actually perfect, the best in Europe at the weekend I’d say! I brought the aggravator down from Tullymurry mid-week but Richard (Nesbitt) only had to use it in a couple of places. I used my stick going around and the ground was still moist a couple of inches in.

“Vina (Buller) and her team (Tony McManmon, Noel Fitzpatrick, Stephen Orr and Stephen Dunlop) switched direction from the May event and produced lovely, flowing tracks over some new terrain that really went down well. The Advanced track was brilliant but, saying that, I don’t think I ever rode in conditions so hot. Thankfully, they had hose pipes at the finish for all the horses.

“Not everyone who competed at Necarne was happy with their results but they were happy that they found out a lot about their horse and themselves,” concluded Cullen who was facing into a busy week at the Dublin Horse Show on the Pegus stand after which he heads over to the Blair Castle International in Scotland (August 25 to 28) where Seavaghan Ash has been entered in the CCI4*-S. The CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds at Blenheim (September 15th to 18th) is the target for Ultimate Quality.