Eddie Macken may not be lining out for Ireland in today's Aga Khan Cup, but he established a commanding lead in the race for the John Higgins and Corry trophies at the Kerrygold Horse Show yesterday morning when he headed the field in the Grade A class with Fan La Bamba, again keeping Peter Charles pinned back in second place.
"The mare will be one of my horses for next week's Aachen Nations Cup meeting, and these classes are a great opportunity to get her out and jumping sweetly at this level," Macken said of the 14year-old Hannoverian, which is owned by German industrialist Mr Michael Nixdorf.
Although using this class as a schooling opportunity, there was a cutting edge to the performances of both Irish internationals yesterday morning as they contested this Chestnut Ridge Farm-sponsored class, which went to a five-horse jump-off.
Harry Marshall, who narrowly missed out on claiming a $25,000 bonus on the national circuit last weekend, had set the pace with a clear in 51.52 seconds from Cruiseline, one of the many successful progeny of the Irish team horse, Cruising.
But Peter Charles, second-last to go with Traxdata Dolly, made a time-saving manoeuvre at the midway point in the seven-fence track, tackling an upright on an acute angle and galloping for the finish in 43.20.
This gave Macken a target to aim for, and with his inbuilt clock working to perfection, he did just enough to ensure that he once again had the final say. With the timing display flashing 41.73, Macken maintained his unbeaten record in the Grade A classes.
Waterford rider Francis Connors was in invincible form in the Simmonscourt novice arena yesterday, riding his sister Sarah's Hallodri mare, Premonition, to upstage Tom Slattery and Furisto's Treasure in the six-year-old class. He then brought out James Costigan's Cullohill Also, by Clover Hill, to top the line-up in the Grades B and C jump-off.
In the pony show jumping arena there was a British whitewash of the 148cm division, with Robert Whitaker winning the qualifier with Correlli Bravo, the pony with which he was a team gold medallist at the European championships in Le Touquet last month.
Jo Anne Waterson repeated her opening-day winning form when taking the 138cm qualifier with A Step In Time, while the 128cm winner was Leah Quinlivan on the veteran Tia Marie, winner of the Millstreet Derby last month.