Most unusually, the Co Limerick venue was bathed in sunshine for the second leg of this year’s series but things had not been looking so good a few days earlier.

“Until yesterday, let’s just say that we had a considerable amount of rain,” said Chris Ryan who, at the start of the week, had been mulling over cancelling the event.

“At one stage, he referred to the going in the Derby arena as being like pudding and also felt that the four-year-olds shouldn’t be asked to gallop on the ground. However, some riders did ask their mounts to extend having gone through the finish.

Conditions demanded changes to the usual lay-out with the ridden display taking place in the field adjacent to the Derby arena while Una O’Donnell (four-year-olds) and Marian Thomas judged horses on the triangle in the all-weather on the other side of the house.

As owners and riders were delighted that the qualifier went ahead, Sue Ryan needlessly apologised for conditions in the dressage arenas. “They were the best they could be,” she added.

Irish Horse World eventing correspondent Sally Parkyn was jumping suitability and potential judge for the first time at Scarteen and very much enjoyed the change of role.

Asked to comment on the entry, Parkyn stated: “There were a number of very smart horses from both age groups and a few outstanding ones. Some coped with the ground better than others but, positively, there were very few refusals and only one elimination.”

Fence two, a vertical on top of the mound, proved the most troublesome on the course as it was knocked regularly.

The following oxer also caught out a few as did one or both elements of the double at four. The going in that part of the arena was particularly holding. There were very few problems over the cross-country fences.

All dressage tests were completed before the jumping began but still horses appeared for the final phase in any order but numerical. There was only one horse forward for the speed Derby, Kilshannig Leo who was ridden by Leann O’Sullivan.