“HE’S the horse of a lifetime,” said Rosie Alcorn of her home-bred Chrysanthos, after the combination won the EI115 (Open) at Flowerhill. The pair lay second after dressage and, when early leaders Suzanne Hagan and Karolita O added penalties in both jumping phases, they were left at the top of the leaderboard. Cathal Daniels took second with CDS Maple Syrup on the seven-year-old’s first run at this level, while Jonathan Steele was third with John Simpson’s traditionally-bred Somerville Springheeled.

Alcorn’s attention will now turn towards Scone Palace International Horse Trials, where she aims to contest the CCI4*-S with Chrysanthos at the end of the month. “We made that decision at nine o’clock this morning,” laughed Alcorn. “We’re supposed to be doing up a house and putting in a new kitchen, but my husband Mick pointed out that you never know when a horse might go lame or have a problem, and when we have a sound horse, we need to make the most of it. Mick groomed for me with four horses on Sunday and kept them all rolling out - he’s not a bad husband really!”