CLARE Abbott had just the one ride at The Clare last Saturday, but it was a good one, as the Irish Sport Horse gelding Cortynan completed on his third-place dressage score (24.8 penalties) to win the 21-runner Pegus Horse Feeds EI100.

The six-year-old Creevagh Ferro bay, who was bred by the late Ronnie Hollinger out of the Camiro de Haar Z mare Drumacoon Melody, finished sixth of 25 on his only other start at Grove last month, when he had a pole down show jumping.

Cortynan is owned by Co Tyrone racehorse trainer Andy Oliver, who probably wouldn’t look at a thoroughbred if his ‘page’ was as light as that of Saturday’s winner. Then, again, he wasn’t looking for a racehorse or any type of a competition horse when he purchased the gelding.

“Andy bought ‘Peter’ as a hunter and he did hunt him last season,” revealed Abbott. “Around March time, he rang me to say he thought he had a horse that was good enough to event and so Peter arrived. He is a great mover and jumper and has the most wonderful attitude.

“He’s picked up everything very quickly and, when his frame matures and gets stronger, I think we’ll have a really good horse for the future. Andy is keen to let him progress and we’ll have some big days ahead, I hope!”

It’s good to see Abbott get a nice horse into her yard following the sale over the winter of her 2021 European Championships ride Jewelent, who is now being campaigned by the USA’s Phillip Dutton, and, more recently, of the promising MT Luxaan. That 2018 ISH mare by Cazaan, who was bred by Abbott’s partner Gareth Carlisle, rounded off the 2023 season with two wins at EI100 level, including in the HSI Studbook series final for five-year-olds at Kilguilkey House. He has been sold to a young rider in the States.

Commenting on last Saturday’s event, Abbott enthused: “It was brilliant! It had a great atmosphere and the Cullens had their place looking pristine. The cross-country fences were sponsored individually and really looked the part.”

Alex Houston, who led after dressage with My Atlantic Encore (21.5) may not have been as effusive in her praise of the fixed fences – especially the fourth, as it was here that she parted company from her home-bred mare by Centre Stage.

It’s rare to see Stephen Smith leave an event without a win to his credit. He was lying second after the flatwork phase on the EI newcomer Annaghmore Cornoko (23.3), but this five-year-old ISH gelding by HHS Cornet had a fence down show jumping before going clear across the country. The bay is owned by Campbell McLean, whose daughter Myah trains with Smith Brothers Eventing and who, with a fence down show jumping, finished fourth here on Ballyneety Cavalier Imp (29.3). Leapfrogging Smith and McLean to finish second was Lucy McIlroy with her six-year-old Imperial Hights gelding, Imperial Wonder (26.8).