NutriScience CCI4*-L
WHILE it came as no surprise to their many supporters, outsiders Michael McNally and Eclipto landed the biggest win of their careers in the NutriScience CCI4*-L.
Turning the tables on several Olympic-listed partnerships and only after a tight show jumping finale, the Summerhill duo showed just why they have dominated the national classes this season.
“Absolutely thrilled,” said McNally. “He’s my horse of a lifetime and he deserves it – he showed his class and was brilliant.”
Preparation is the key to success, and leaving no stone unturned, McNally revealed that on this way down to Ballindenisk earlier in the week, he had stopped off to do a final piece of work at CoilÓg Equestrian. “I just wanted to run through the test in a big arena and to jump a few fences. I felt quietly confident at that stage that he was going to put in a good performance and be competitive,” he added.
McNally was spot on in his prediction, and despite an expensive early mistake in an otherwise classy dressage test, the pair headed out into the country just 0.1 mark adrift of leaders Steven Smith (Galwaybay Echo) and with Brian Morrision (Global Mentor) on 34.8 in third.
There had been much discussion surrounding Peter Fell’s cross-country track which was both beefy and technical. Ultimately however, the leaderboard changed only slightly on Saturday night, and heading into Sunday’s show jumping phase less than a fence separated the top five.
With no room for error, the leaders had to go clear and for Smith, it was not to be. Galwaybay Echo jumped well, but on tipping a late pole, he passed victory to the clean jumping Eclipto, from Fred Scala (Everon Vivendi) in second.
The winner, astutely sourced by his rider/owner as a €1,800 three-year-old purchase from Goresbridge, has yet to catch the eye of the selectors, but on this performance, it can only be a matter of time. Bred by Jackson Goulding, the 10-year-old is by Cavalier Carnival and the sole recorded progeny out of Tawna Jane by Puissance.
Landing the second spot was a real boost to Fred Scala, who, with special permission as an Olympic-listed rider, had made the considerable journey from his home in the west of Cornwall.
“The logistics were a costly nightmare, but it was worth it,” he admitted. “We’ve been working quietly away at home, with weekly video sessions from dressage trainer Tracey Robinson. We didn’t aim to win the dressage but to do a nice, soft test and one we can build on. This we did on a very competitive mark and I feel this is only the start. Across country, the horse was with me every step of the way, he gave me everything without a question.”
Despite his obvious disappointment, Smith commented after the cross country: “Galwaybay Echo was as straight as a dye everywhere. I had been a little concerned about his fitness, but he cantered home through the finish full of running.”
Notable performances
Among the other notable performances were those from fourth-placed Austin O’Connor (Colorado Blue), Brian Morrison (Global Mentor) in fifth and Sam Watson, who will have been especially pleased with his sixth-placed long format debutante Ballybolger Talisman.
Out on track, the remainder did not fare quite as well. While the early discussions among riders had been based around the combination (5 and 6) following the first water, and the narrow downhill combination at 9abc, these fences rode well. It was the big corners (17) later on course that proved problematic, and following difficulties here and later, Robbie Kearns (Master McCormack) and Sofia Sjoborg (Targa G) walked home. As the sole remaining finisher, Steven Smith incurred two glance-offs with Hi Happy Harry, but will not have been disappointed with his long format first-timer.