RACKING up the biggest winning margin of the day at Hillcrest last Sunday was Adam Haugh and FJK Back To The Future who posted a convincing win in the strongly contested EI 110.

Making the four hour journey from the north worthwhile, the pair gained a mark of 25.5, before delivering one of just two double clear rounds. Even more impressively, the duo was making their debut at the level, having collected second and third prizes at Tyrella in EI 100 classes in previous weeks.

“Ella (Boyle) and I bought him from Fearghal King (FJK Sport Horses) as a three-year-old,” said Haugh. “He’s by Future Trend out of a half ID mare by Uncle Paul. There is very little blood in the pedigree, but he travels and gallops well and has a very good brain.”

Bred by William Walsh in Co Clare, the six-year-old grey will have another couple of runs, before his early season target of the young horse class at Millstreet at the end of May.

Although there were no jumping faults across the country, the time was tight. Winner aside, Equine Massage and Rehabilitation therapist Jason Dear delivered the remaining double clear to fill second with the mare All Dat Quality, from Daniel Alderson aboard the smart FLS Confusion in third.

Competitive

With a field of 37, the EI 100 was a most competitive affair. So, to win from the front on the six-year-old home-bred Son of Montague was especially gratifying for both owner Patricia Heffernan and rider James O’Haire. “I had to prove that there is life in the old dog yet,” jested O’Haire, whose son Tadgh has already racked two wins at Tyrella this season.

Adding to the family’s successes, O’Haire’s other sons are also achieving, with Jack now riding for Mike and Trish Ryan in Co Cork and Darragh hurling for the Kildare under 16s. The win is also the reward for patience as O’Haire explains.

“We have given him plenty of time,” he of the son of Womaniser (dam by Ricardo Z). “He’s a big, tall horse so he spent much of his four-year-old year in the field. We then campaigned him lightly last year and now we have a lovely strong six-year-old. As to future plans, we will play it by ear – he will tell us when he’s ready.”

Chasing the whole way, Alex Donohoe filled a good second with her own six-year-old Model County Blue Moon by the thoroughbred Blueprint, from Catie Slater aboard Richard Ames’ five-year-old Belline Imperial Diamond (Imperial Heights).

Finally, the EI90 handed a win to the big five-year-old Tullabeg Archie by Tullabeg Fusion. Owned by the former editor of the Irish Farmers Journal equine sector Leanne O’Sullivan, and ridden by her younger sister Alice, the palomino was bought from his breeder Nicky Cousins 18 months. The young rider YES series qualifiers are next in line for this highly rated gelding who, leading from the outset, bettered second placed Hannah Gordon aboard Harvey Spector.