Worthwhile journey south for Abbott

CLARE Abbott left Hillsborough at 4.45am on Saturday to get to Punchestown and that early start paid off handsomely as, on the best of the ground, she won both divisions of the EI115 competition and finished fifth at the same level on her only other ride.

In section A, Ian Cassells led after Marie Hennessy’s judging of the dressage phase on Killaloan Tess (25.2 penalties) with Abbott lying second on Miss Matana (25.5) while Sarah Ennis posted the only other sub 30-penalty score on Lisanley (26.4). The last-named combination was one of four to pick up 20 jumping penalties across the country to drop out of contention. They ultimately withdrew.

Meanwhile, with the faster cross-country round, Abbott went into the lead ahead of Cassells and, as both show jumped clear, they took the top spots with Miss Matana (30.3) and Killaloan Tess (30.8). On just their second real start at this level, Molly Evans had to be pleased with her third-place finish on Wellan Graffiti (37.4) who recorded the only clear inside the time across the country but had a fence down show jumping.

John Lyttle judged the Section B dressage and he awarded his only sub-30 penalty score to Abbott and her own Mr Mighty (28) with Cassells next best on Gorsehill Amy (30.2). Abbott needed her advantage as she picked up eight penalties for time across the country and 0.4 in her otherwise clear jumping round for a total of 36.4. Cassells dropped to fourth (44.2) with six cross-country time penalties and eight in the final show jumping phase.

Jonny Steele moved up the leaderboard to finished second on Bikini (41.5) who recorded the section’s fastest cross-country round (0.4 for time) but had a pole down jumping while there was a third-place finish for Abby Coakley, who left the amateur ranks to compete from the start of the campaign, riding Shannondale George (41.6).

Le Lion candidate

As with her Glenpatrick winner DHI No Fear, who finished fifth here in Section A on 43.2, Miss Matana is being campaigned by Abbott for Newtownards owner, Sarah Riley. “This mare is usually ridden by Sarah’s daughter Katie who is studying veterinary at Cambridge,” said Abbott of the OBOS Quality 004 eight-year-old who was bred by Helena McNamara out of Rienroe Ashbrook.

“I’m not too sure when the girls will be back on board themselves but I hope to ride both horses at the international in Kilguilkey (early July),” said Abbott who combines riding at a high level with teaching mathematics three days a week.

“I have Mr Mighty in the CCI3*-S at Millstreet. I don’t think I have ever sat on a better seven-year-old and I do believe he is a Le Lion candidate. He’s by Gatcombe and was bred by Cormac McKay.”

Having had a fall with Cesar V in the CCI4*-S at Aston Le Walls mid-week, Joseph Murphy struck when scoring on Choclat in the EI115 (Open) despite adding 4.8 cross-country time penalties to his Joanne Jarden-awarded winning dressage score of 24.8 which would have been a penalty point less but for an error.

The 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Contendro, who won the CCI3*-L at Ballindenisk last month, is owned by Annette O’Callaghan, Alan Bell and Richard Ames. Unlike some other owners, who have had a very frustrating time of late because of ground conditions, Ames enjoyed a good afternoon with his representatives.

The only double clear inside the time in Saturday’s 24-strong class was recorded by Patrick Whelan and Footfall (32.1), the 17-year-old gelding he has been competing, and winning on, since his days as a member of the Killinick Branch of the Irish Pony Club. “I should have won! claimed Whelan. “He cantered through the walk. He’s just got too clever and was anticipating the canter.”