THERE were 19 starters in last Saturday’s EI90 at Tullymurry where Ella Boyle ran out a comfortable winner on her own Irish Sport Horse mare Assagart Treasure who had finished second on her debut seven days earlier at The Clare.

The pair led after the Coreen Abernethy-judged dressage phase on 24.3 penalties and while they completed on their flat work mark to claim victory, their nearest rivals fell by the wayside having had problems in one or other of the jumping phases. One combination withdrew following a poor show jumping round and one retired on the cross-country course where there were three eliminations, two for leaving out the second element of fence 16, the Fletcher’s Art Water.

Despite finishing a second over the time across the country, Elle West moved into the runner-up spot with the inexperienced nine-year-old Mullins Celtic gelding Magherard Celtic (30.4) as Katie Robinson, who moved out of ponies this season, finished third with the ISH mare Ophelia Cruise (33.3). This six-year-old Landenco bay, who was having her fourth start, won an EI100 (J) class at The Clare the previous Saturday.

Assagart Treasure, who was bred in Co Wexford by Michael Roche and his father John, is by Ars Vivendi out of the Bonnie Prince mare Assagart Jewel.

“On the advice of longterm friend and coach Debbie Byrne, I purchased ‘Tiny’ at Monart in 2021 having tried to buy her multiple times on the run-up to the sale,” revealed Boyle. “Her main attraction was that she was by the same sire as my top horse, Catriona. She had an accidental foal as a two-year-old so she’s been a bit slow to mature.

“I didn’t push her last season but hopefully it seems to be paying off now as she’s really coming into herself. She will do another few events and enjoy a break at the end of the summer. I just love her as she’s the first one I’ve properly started and done from the beginning myself.

“I’m really lucky to be based at home with a lovely team of horses. After being sidelined for the majority of the last two seasons, I’m only really getting back in full swing now. I have some really exciting horses so I’m glad to be feeling like I’m getting back on track at last.”