THE first five-year-old qualifier for the Dublin Horse Show offered 12 qualifying places and a massive field of 126 combinations made up the start list at Barnadown on Wednesday.

Tom Holden’s 1.20m track saw just 37 horses produce a first round clear to progress to the jump-off. Pat Sheahan Jnr’s mare Hilliards Quality (OBOS Quality 004 x Heritage Fortunus) proved best of these for rider Jamie Landers to take first place in a time of 53.90.

Ronan Rothwell’s stallion Boleybawn Alvaro (Dominator Z x Crown Z), ridden by Niamh McEvoy, were runners-up in 54.16. Katie McEntee and Castlefield Breeding Farm’s Castlefield Duchess (Conthragos x Madame del Gardesano) took third place in 54.38, ahead of LMG Enterprises’ Gone Girl VB (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Cobra) with Vincent Byrne in fourth.

Victoria Loane’s Ameretto T (Apardi x Quick Star) and Kelly Taggart were fifth, while Richard Kerins rode Jennifer Crowley’s Realteens Orestus (Orestus x Cruising) into sixth.

With the top six places decided there was still the remaining six qualifying spots up for grabs and these went to Jake Hunter and Sandra Duffy’s Seapatrick Diamond Semilly (Diamant De Semilly x Chellano Z); Derek McConnell and his own Jazmine Blue (Chacoon Blue x Cruising), Stephen Gibbons and Jane Gibbons’ Ceide Candy Heart (Garryduff Jar of Hearts x Sligo Candy Boy) all of whom had double clear rounds.

The final three tickets went to the fastest four-faulters; Zoe Connolly with her own Brockagh Field Cailin (Dakar VDL x Brocka Cruising Lucy), Clare Abbott riding the home-bred Mt Luxaan (Cazaan x Lux Z) and Tholm Keane with Fairy Tale Farms’ Nairobi (Harley VDL x Burggraaf).