RICHARD Ames’ team at Belline are on a roll, and it was number two stable jockey Catie Slater who picked up the first of their two victories in the EI110 (O) at Crecora.

Slater partnered Tanja Ames’ 10-year-old mare Belline Warrenstown Cruz, who returning to the sport this year after injury, was having her first full run, as well as her seasonal debut at the level.

“After her injury, it was planned that she should go show jumping, but Tanja realised she was happier eventing,” explained Slater, who has worked at Belline for over two years.

“She’s really good fun, and so easy going and it would be lovely to aim for an international at the end of the year.” Also double clear, Lindsay Graham (Moystown St Ghyvan) was a good second from the slightly slower Robbie Kearns on board another of the Ames’ string RCA Royal Summer.

Kearns may have missed out in the former class, but he was bang on target in the second of two well filled EI110 sectors. Riding Belline Gucci, he scorched around the country, and despite rolling a coloured pole, held the final advantage over Neilus O’Donoghue (Ballybunion Lass) and Cathal Daniels aboard Jane Tiffin’s Introducing Ollie.

Although the ground held up well in the conditions, the natural deterioration had an impact, as time faults proved to be considerable factor in both sectors.

While a few isolated errors in the country also changed the order in Section A, speed was the decider, and it was the smart pairing of Kilnamac Kasu and Godfrey Gibbons who landed the spoils in the first division.

In fifth spot on the flat, Gibbons was the sole runner to return home in the time, and despite ironically picking up a fraction of a time fault in the show jumping, completed ahead of Darragh Byrne (Teachers Pet) and Gillian Beale-King with Call On Cavalier.

Only a six-year-old, the winning son of Kannan was bred by James Ryan, and beautifully related, is a half-brother to the American-based four-star campaigner Electric Lux, while the dam is a full sibling to Joseph Murphy’s Olympic hero Electric Cruise.