IRISH riders filled six of the top seven places in the 22-strong DJI Group CCI4*-S class at last week’s SemaLease Kilguilkey House International but, significantly, it was an Italian tricolour which featured in the No 1 slot as Giovanni Ugolotti followed up his Millstreet CCI3*-S success on Florencina R with victory at this higher level.

Owned by Philip Hunt and Jo Preston-Hunt, the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Verdi was bred at the Ruxton Stud in Britain by David Slater out of Whitsuntide de Marsch, a daughter of Goodtimes. She was sold into this country and was first produced on the Show Jumping Ireland circuit by Desmond and Shane McFadden. She had a number of riders during her early years but Catherine Thornton was in the saddle when the mare last jumped here at the Cavan Indoor Championships in September 2017.

Florencina R first competed under British Eventing rules in early April the following year. She was then partnered by New Zealand’s Dan Jocelyn with Ugolotti only taking over the ride at the end of last season. As a combination, they have just had two starts under BE rules, finishing fourth on their second outing in an Open Intermediate at Tweseldown in May, before winning here twice. She next heads to the Burgham International at the end of the month and then on to Blenheim in September.

It appeared as if south Co Dublin’s Ian Cassells couldn’t lose last season but he has found wins hard to come by so far this year and here had to settle for second, on his dressage score, with the Noel and Nuala Prendergast-bred Irish Sport Horse gelding Woodendfarm Jack O D (34.3), a 10-year-old bay by Jack Of Diamonds. Wexford’s Patrick Whelan incurred jumping penalties with both Altitu (40.2) and Denis Finch Hatton (41.5) who finished third and fourth respectively.