THE final chance to earn a place for young horses at this year’s Dublin Horse Show took place at a very busy Mullingar Equestrian on Wednesday.

First up at 7.55am was the five-year-old class with a dozen places on offer. A large field of 111 combinations started; of these, 40 posted a clear first round, 19 of them kept a clean sheet through the second round and 13 managed a triple clear round.

Rhys Williams was fastest of these in a time of 30.99 riding Williams Sport Horses Ltd’s gelding KPCM Hugo Boss (Plot Blue x Luidam), bred by Glenmore Stud. This victory, over a second and a half quicker than their closest rival, has earmarked them as one of the favourites for the final in Ballsbridge in August.

Eamonn Walsh’s Galwaybay Winningmood (Winningmood Van De Arenberg x Mermus R), bred by Justin Burke, finished as runner-up in 32.69. Charles O’Reilly Hyland rode his own Penelope 31 (Mylord Carthago x Diamant de Semilly), bred by Sean and Ronan Judge, into third place in 33.49.

Quality Sport Horses’ Lagans Candy Boy (Sligo Candy Boy x Quick Star), bred by Peter Rice and ridden by Dylan Ward, took fourth in 33.55. Fifth was Robyn Moran riding Vera Griffin’s mare Movie-Star (Colman x Calido), while sixth was Gemma Phelan aboard her own Lance Corporal (Corporal VDL x Jai Ho), bred Louise Thompson.

The final six places went to Eoin Brennan (SDF Five Star), Andrew Hodgins (Konig), Dylan Savage (Ti Amore Van De Doornhaag), Leah Stack (Rosconnell Tango), Tracey Nolan (Ballinaguilkey Ruby) and Katharina Wildling (Carrabeg The Full Irish).

Seven/eight-year-olds

Just under 100 horses lined out for the seven and eight-year-old qualifier in the Aloga International arena, competing for the nine places available for the Dublin Horse Show.

Ennisnag Stud’s seven-year-old Dutch-bred stallion Mendoza VDL (Harley VDL x Cardento) took the top-spot, stopping the clock in 37.40 in the 28-strong jump-off under rider Shane Dalton.

Jack Ryan and Northlawn Farm Ltd’s eight-year-old Belgian-bred mare Soblensky vh Scheefkasteel Z (Sir Obolensky Z x Diamant de Semilly) finished in second place in 37.84.

MBF Be Blue (Chacco Blue x Highvalley), owned and ridden by Jason Higgins, was third in 38.31, while fourth went to Shane Kenny and his own Chacoon Cherry PS (Chacoon Blue x Robin II Z) in 38.37.

Dermot Walsh’s LVS Goldrush H (Stakkato Gold x Stakkato), bred by Heritage Bloodstock Ltd, was guided into fifth by Ethen Ahearne. Sixth was Seamus Hughes Kennedy riding Racecourse Farm Ltd’s Dure De Semily (Diamant de Semilly x Oklund).

The final three in the line-up were Susan Fitzpatrick (Lovely Stassi PS), Max O’Reilly Hyland (Rock Warrior) and Ger O’Neill (Guerlain De Hus).

Six-year-olds

Sven Hadley and his own gelding Maximum Numero Too (Aganix Du Seigneur x Numero Uno), bred by Eamon McArdle, galloped to victory in the six-year-old class, which offered 12 qualifying places.

Some 79 riders lined out for the 1.30m jump-off. Just 23 managed to produce a first-round clear to progress to the timed decider. Hadley was best of these double clears in 32.96 for the win.

Michael Ormond’s home-bred gelding Kylemore Cool Hero (Diamant De Semilly x Cardento) was ridden by Linda Moloney into second place in 34.53. Gemma Phelan and Rory Costigan’s home-bred mare GRC Mercedes (Luidam x Chacco Blue) took third place in 34.75.

Another home-bred mare, Martina McCrory’s OKE Dixieland Rock (Elvis Ter Putte x Cobra) was fourth in 34.89, while the fifth spot went to Taylor Cummins riding Miriam Moloney’s Dutch-bred Nubalia DHF (I’m Special De Muze x Indoctro).

Deane Rogan and Silvermines Cornet Cruise (Cornet Obolensky x Cruising), bred by Mr Clohessy and Mr Stapelton and owned by Declan McGarry, captured sixth place in 35.24.

The next places went to Max Foley (HHS Kingston), Conor McEneaney (Ups Angelo), Jamie Landers (Agana van’t Vossenhof Z), Rhys Williams (Bouvardia Van Twelve Oaks Z), James O’Reilly (Susan II) and Jack Brennan (MHS Big Sur).

Four-year-olds

German judges Marc Hahne and Philipp Baumgart had the difficult job of selecting the final eight four-year-olds to go forward to compete at the Dublin Horse Show for the Mo Chroí National Championship.

Each of the horses is awarded points out of 100.

On this occasion, it was Lorna Casey’s Lough Na Phuca, a mare by O.B.O.S Quality 004 out of Major Chance (Touchdown), who earned the highest score of 83.5 under Robbie Clancy. The winner was bred by Charles Hanley.

Second went to John Byrne’s home-bred Tangelos Touch (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Captain Clover) with young rider Tadhg McKiernan in the saddle, on the same score of 83.5.

Harry Wood took third and fourth places with Bridlebourne Stables’ Dutch-bred BP Paloma (Emerald van t Ruytershof x Zirocco Blue VDL) on 83 and Matt Calderwood and GBBS Int Ltd’s Mix De Blues (Aganix du Seigneur x MHS September Song), bred by Micheal and Sinead Brennan, on 79.8, respectively.

Fifth went to Carl Webb riding his own CBI Lucinda (Chacco Blue II x Diamant De Semilly), bred by Aidan Carroll, with a score of 79.75.

Shane Kenny rode the John McKibben-bred Leestone Emeresky (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Cornet Oblensky) into sixth on 79.5. Seventh place went to Brian Lenehan’s Dondale Omega (79.25) (Glasgow Van’t Merelsnest x Chellano Z), bred by Joseph Doran.

The eighth and last place went to the Eamonn Walsh-owned and Justin Burke-bred Galwaybay Jim (Catoki x Kannan), ridden by Thom Keane to a score of 78.75.

This report is based on results from SJI Live. SJI will confirm all qualifying places.