PATRICK Byrne is never one to linger across the country, but even he clocked up 14.8 time penalties on his way to winning the seven-year-old DAFM Studbook series class at Tattersalls last Sunday.

Riding the versatile eventer/show jumper Belline Newmarket Delight, Byrne posted one of just two double clears to complete in front of Suzie Shekleton and Greenhall Good Decision. Winners at Ballindenisk last time out, Byrne and the son of Newmarket Venture are now into the advanced ranks, and will line up in the CCI3*-S at Lisgarvan this weekend. All four runners had a clear spin across the country.

Landing the first leg of a rewarding Tattersalls double, Sam Watson took the honours in the six-year-old sector with the eye-catching dun Ballybolger Goldman. Owned jointly by his wife Sparkles, together with Lesley Crampton, the gelding opened by posting a leading dressage mark of 25.3 to which he added just 7.6 penalties for time.

“He’s well capable of doing a test like that, so I’m delighted with him and for Lesley who, as the owner with the Midas touch (as the owner of Badminton runner-up RCA Patron Saint), was here at Tattersalls to see him run.”

Bred by Rosemary Ponsonby out of the good brood mare Warcraft Kate (Warcraft), the winning son of Tullabeg Fusion is a sibling to three international horses, including Christopher Whyte’s CCI3* mare Ladycraft.

Hard on Watson’s heels and faster in the country, second-placed Clare Abbott will have risen to the top of the series leaderboard with Marshall and Sarah Riley’s Plot Blue-sired gelding Kilcoltrim Cooley. Runners-up at Hillcrest two weeks earlier, the duo completed just ahead of Niamh Tottenham who, in third place, was only just in arrears with her very consistent Slieve Callan Solace. The final order juggled further after an influential show jumping phase, and again when some well-placed riders with Lisgarvan commitments opted not to run across the country.

Belline team owner Richard Ames has long had a fondness for Sligo Candy Boy progeny, so he will have been especially delighted to see his Belline Castle Ziggy land back-to-back wins in the five-year-old division. Ridden as usual by stable jockey Robbie Kearns, the Noel Ruane-bred mare (dam by Chipolino) completed on her winning dressage score of 29.3, less than a point ahead of Terence White aboard his home-bred Garrybritt Rupert.

Both were double clear, as was Sian Coleman, who filled third with Randalstown Prime Time.

A well-supported class of 14 runners produced seven double clear rounds, with just one picking up penalty in the country.

Excellent season

Clare Abbott is deservedly enjoying an excellent season with her young horses and especially with the six-year-old EI 100 winner, Cortynan.

A son of Creevagh Ferro, and bred by the late Ronnie Hollinger, he has picked up two wins, a third and a sixth from his four runs under rules.

Owned by race horse trainer Andy Oliver, he was originally bought as a hunter, but recognising his potential as an event horse, Oliver contacted Clare. The rest, as they say, is history, but posting a 19.8 dressage mark, combined with a double clear round, the look to have an exciting future.

Fellow Northern Region rider Lucca Stubington, riding Martin Wilson’s show jumper turned event horse Roundthorn Minerva, improved from an initial third spot to fill second, reversing places with show jumper Darryl Walker and I’ve Got This. In contrast to the bigger classes, the time was straightforward, as was the track, over which all 18 runners completed without incident.