KILKENNY-based Welsh international John Tilley initiated a double at Hillcrest on Bank Holiday Monday in the eight-runner EI115 where, with the only double clear inside the time, he completed on his winning dressage score with Wellfields Casino Royale (29.8 penalties).

This was a first win at this level, and the second in total, for Tilley on Polly Stephens’ seven-year-old Casiro I gelding who was first produced on the EI circuit by another Ireland-based Welsh rider, Amy Parsons. Wellfields Casino Royale holds an entry in the CCI3*-S at Lisgarvan where Tilley has five other intended rides.

These include, in the CCI1*-Intro, Sharon Power’s Irish Sport Horse mare Carrigshawn Zara on whom he also completed on his first phase score (23.3) to narrowly win Monday’s EI100.

In a closely-fought 16-runner class, where only five combinations had a penalty score of 30 or over in dressage, Tilley and the six-year-old Mermus R mare had just a point to spare over Sian Coleman and Cairnview Crystal Springs (24.3) who had less of an advantage over Jane Fitzgerald on Kildromin Mentor (25).

In a class where she had mixed luck with her three rides, Nicky Roncoroni’s best-place finish was sixth (28.8) on The Magic of Merlin who led after dressage on 22.8.

South Co Dublin’s Ian Cassells is another with a full book of rides at Lisgarvan, among them being Frances Corkery’s traditionally home-bred mare Shanbo Super Flex with whom he led from start to finish in Monday’s EI115 (Open) despite the addition of 4.4 cross-country time penalties.

Also with time penalties on the final leg, Northern Region members Joseph Murphy and Clare Abbott finished second and third on My Foxhall Kit (33) and Mr Mighty (35).

The more locally-based Dominic Furnell completed on his dressage score (25.3) to easily win the four-runner EI110 (Open) with his Dutch Warmblood gelding Horlepiep.

This was just a third start of the season for the 12-year-old Saffier bay.