Noel C. Duggan Engineering CCI3*-L

DESPITE being chased all the way by Ireland’s Nicola Ennis and Ian Cassells, the spoils in the CCI3*-L finally fell to British international Harry Meade. Teaming up with the French-bred Et Hop du Matz, Meade held second place heading into the final phase, and with a fence in hand - but not two - he just squeaked home with one rail on the floor.

The winning son of Nouma d’Auzay had competed at CCI2* level in his native France but, as a new ride for Meade, was making his first attempt at the higher rank. “He is a very honest, uncomplicated horse with a great brain,” said Meade, before adding. “He also has a nice combination of blood and jump, which are the ingredients we used to come to Ireland to look for – and I say that as a lover of Irish horses through and through. He will leave here with a great education, as the courses have a disproportionately high number of educational combinations which is why this place is so special.”

Counting among the hardest working of Irish event riders, Nicola Ennis fully deserved her second placing with Michelle Dennigan’s attractive eight-year-old Out of Print. Immaculate throughout, and adding only 2.4 penalties to their opening score, the Co Meath pair were promoted from third place, reversing placings with Ian Cassells and Shanaclough Carmen who tipped a rail. A winner at Necarne (EI115 0) last time out, Ennis has produced the home-bred son of Out of Touch (dam by the thoroughbred Primitive Rising) throughout his career.

Successful as a young horse, he qualified for and travelled to contest the Burghley Young Event Horse championship at as five-year-old, since when he has progressed quietly through to the advanced ranks. “It takes a lot of work to get this far,” said an obviously delighted Ennis. “He’s improving all the time. We will have a chat about where we go next, but the short format four-star at Ballindenisk could be a possibility.”

Moving up from 10th place after dressage, and counting as one of just three to make the time in the country, Ian Cassells completed in a very creditable third place aboard John Glynn’s Shanaclough Carmen by Aldatus Z. A new ride for Cassells this season, the eight-year-old mare is certainly bred for the job, being the third international event progeny out of John Glynn’s mare Shanaclough Diamond Queen, who was a sister to the top performer Shanaclough Crecora (CCI5*) and Shanaclough Clovertone (CCI4*). “I’m so pleased to get this result for John who bred her, and for Jess O’Driscoll who produced her up until last year,” said Cassells. “She felt really good everywhere. She has a massive stride, and I think will move up to four-star very easily.”

Saturday’s cross-country phase turned the leaderboard on its head and while only two runners picked up jumping penalties, the time was most definitely the decider. As a result, the leading Australian pairing of Sammi Birch and Jutopia dropped from first to sixth after incurring 7.6 penalties while, gathering both jumping and time faults, Lucinda Mesquita (Gem Rose) plummeted from fourth and later withdrew.

Adding to this list, it was also disappointing to see third-placed Tarka Abraham’s Vamoose being held at the trot up on Sunday morning, and subsequently withdrawn.

As beneficiaries, Ennis and Cassells progressed to reap the rewards, as did Cerys McAulay who, completing in in fourth spot with two clean jumping rounds, enjoyed a great spin with Drumconnick Cavalier.

Slotting into eighth spot, Patrick Byrne (Oughterard Diva) was also notable as the only rider to complete on his dressage score.