JASON Foley (20) is another Irish young rider who has gained plenty of experience on the international circuit earlier this year and he returned to Balmoral last week to win the £3,000 two-star International Accumulator class.
Just 20 started over the 1.40m track which had a joker fence. Of those, five managed to score the maximum 65 points, and Foley was the fastest in 53.54 seconds with Cnoc Rua Chinook. The nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse, who is owned and bred by Tara Coffey, is by Pacino out of Cnoc Rua Lucy (Ramiro B). The combination scored a number of good results in Spain earlier this year, including a 1.45m win in March.
Taking the runner-up spot was Kevin Gallagher with Alberto Hawa’s Arcadia LVS in a time of 55.34. The next two spots were occupied by British riders and best of those was James Smith who crossed the line in a time of 60.29 aboard Good Friends. Slotting into fourth place was Keith Shore and Leila Van Het Lindehof in a time of 61.95.
Kildare’s Edward Doyle was the final rider to score 65, aboard Gina Prescott’s Renkum A’Toast in a time of 67.20 for fifth place. Daniel McAlinden put in a very fast time with AHG Whiterock Doctor Cruise (54.35), but 63 points would only prove good enough for sixth place.