THE fifth leg of the Irish Sport Horse series for young event horses was held at Tattersalls last Sunday when there was a welcome return to form in the CNC1* for six-year-olds of Mervyn Gibson’s Randalstown Commando.

Ridden by Jonny Mulligan, the Ricardo Z gelding had one fence down show jumping, which was an improvement on recent weeks, before recording the only clear inside the time on the final leg for a completion score of 31.3.

The winners are competing in the six-year-old international class at Millstreet this weekend as are Clare Abbott and Jewelent whose second-place total (31.9) on Sunday included 3.6 cross-country time penalties.

On a busy day for herself and husband Michael, Patricia Ryan led after dressage with Sweet Smart (25) but, having had two fences down show jumping, she took it handy on the final leg and finished eighth.

Back under Sarah Ennis, whose sister Nicola rode the Ricardo gelding at Dublin, Derek McConnell’s Derroon Diplomat recorded his third win in the five-year-old series when completing on his joint-winning dressage score of 23 penalties.

The Michael Ryan-ridden Gurtera Jimmy Clover, who shared the lead after the first phase but had a fence down show jumping, finished third with Ian Cassells slotting into second on Woodendfarm Jack O D (25.5). Ennis, who had four rides in this 31-runner class, was fourth on Stellor Quick Change (28.8), just ahead of Belline Warrenstown Cruz (30) who had a fence down show jumping when Daniel Alderson made a welcome return.

Partnered by Alan Keoghan for Pat Wall, who finished sixth in the EI90 on Birdie, the Drumbeggan Clovers Hill mare Lockside Lady (31.5) won the four-year-old class when recording one of only two double clears.

The same owner/rider combination were third with Cogans Shauna, who had a pole down to finish on 33.5. A fence down proved costly for the dressage winners on 28 penalties, Rebecca Dunlea and Clonguish Berjo who had to settle for the runner-up position.