OLIVER Townend has long been saying that Cooley Rosalent is among the most special horses he has ever ridden and the nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare proved it last weekend when winning the CCI4*-S eight/nine-year-old class at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

By Valent out of the thoroughbred mare Bellaney Jewel (Roselier), she was bred by Woods Rosbotham and has been at Townend’s yard since she was four. A Le Lion silver medallist in 2020, she picked up 20 penalties on her first five-star start at Luhmühlen in June and was second here after dressage on a score of 24.7 which they finished on.

A clear show jumping round on Saturday moved them into pole position and, with just 0.8 to spare over second placed Piggy March, they produced a foot perfect clear inside the time on the final cross-country phase to win. March finished second with another Irish Sport Horse, the Hilary Furlonger-bred Brookfield Future News (Future Trend x Last News).

Best of the Irish in sixth place was Padraig McCarthy with Rachel and Sarah Gough’s Pomp N Circumstance. They added just four show jumping penalties to their dressage score (31.8) to finish on 35.8.

“It was quite a challenging track for eight- and nine-year-old horses, but it was exactly right for a championship,” said Townend afterwards. “This horse is something different. We’ve had her since a four-year-old and she’s been special since the word go.

"She’s got lots of blood and she really wants to do it; she had her ears pricked all the way round the cross-country.”

Long format

The world number one Ros Canter crowned a brilliant season by winning the CCI4*-L at the venue for the first time, riding Alex Moody’s characterful 10-year-old Dutch-bred Izilot DHI. The excitement was maintained until the very end when the overnight leaders, reigning world champion Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, lowered the very last show jumping fence to drop to second place.

“I am so proud of how he jumped,” said Ros. “He can be cheeky and spooky, but he coped very well this weekend and that is exciting for the future.

"I feel there is loads more to come with this horse and feel very lucky to have him. He is now ready to go on to a five-star.”

Britain’s Harry Meade achieved his best result at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, finishing third on his dressage score with the Irish Sport Horse Annaghmore Valona (Coroner x Black Walter), a mount he has taken over from Australian rider Sam Griffiths. The 11-year-old was bred by Sinead Healion.

Another ISH, the Sean Kelly-bred Brookfield Quality (OBOS Quality x Cavalier Royale) was fourth under Tom McEwen. Best of the Irish riders in 24th place was Meath’s Sarah Ennis with Andrew Cox’s Action Lady M (Plot Blue x Acorado), bred by Suzanne Macken, on a final score of 43.3.