Emma McNab and Fernhill Tabasco. Photo by Radka Preislerova/Tattersalls.
When overnight leader James Avery withdrew Zazu before this afternoon’s show jumping, the door swung wide open for Emma McNab and Fernhill Tabasco, and they walked right through it for the lead of the George Mernagh Memorial CIC3* at Tattersalls.
The 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Tabasco Van Erpekom X Dinan Rhoda, by Porter Rhodes xx), owned by Kevin McNab, Dom and Poppy Worcester, Julia and Jamie Dougall, left all the poles up to stay on their dressage score of 21.9.
Jonty Evans and “The People’s Horse” Cooley Rorkes Drift keep the pressure on after a clear round for second place on 22.8 points. “Art,” a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Courage II X Doon-A-Ree-Lass, by Rachelle Comet xx) owned by Jane Moss, Elizabeth Murdoch and Keith Tyson is looking in fine form as he prepares for Luhmühlen.
Looking down the leaderboard, the rest of the top 10 remains similar. Millie Dumas and her own Artistiek sit third on a 25.6. William Fox-Pitt and Catherine Witt’s Bay My Hero are fourth on 26.7 points, and Daniel Alderson is fifth with Richard Ames’ Flying Finish on 28.1.
Tiana Coudray and Under The Clocks. Photo by Libby Law.
Tiana Coudray is the only U.S. rider in the CIC3* division, and she and Jatial Ltd.’s Under The Clocks sit 29th after the first two phases. This is the 16-year-old Thoroughbred’s (Woodborough X Regal Kate) first International appearance of the season. He earned a 33.7 in the first phase and had two rails and three time penalties in today’s show jumping.
“We’re pleased with Ninja. I thought he jumped well, but was just a tad bit rusty. This is his first event back since Blenheim last year, so it’s fair enough. He was feeling great and I’m pleased with him,” Tiana said.
Tiana also has a very promising horse in Cancaras Girl who is currently 17th in the Eventing Ireland CCI2*. Owned by Tiana and Diana Chappell, the 8-year-old Holsteiner mare (Cancara X Rubina VI, by Narew) blazed around the cross country today to stay on her dressage score of 34.
“She was brilliant! Absolutely on fire. She’s like a little sports car with so much scope and so much gallop,” Tiana said. “This was her first CCI2* and she was full of running all the way to the finish. I’m always quite confident going out on her as she is an amazing cross country horse, but she is still green, so I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Tiana Coudray and Happenstance. Photo by Radka Preislerova/Tattersalls.
Annabelle James and Kyrle Arscott’s Happenstance earned a ninth place finish in the Cooley Farm CICYH* with Tiana in the irons.
The 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by Quality Time finished on her dressage score (29.9) in her very first one-star after a faultless show jumping round today, and Tiana is excited about the young horse’s future.
“We are so over the moon! She is such a baby and had done only four novices, so what she has done this weekend is beyond any of our hopes or expectations. She was so bright this morning and show jumped so well it was like she hadn’t done anything yesterday! I am so unbelievably happy to Annabelle and Kyrle,” Tiana said.
“The Prawn” is settling into her role as and upcoming top horse easily, Tiana says. “She caught everyone’s attention this weekend is becoming so famous she’s like an A-list star.”
In the Land Rover CCI*, USA’s Mimi Falb and her own Kilpipe Jewel, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Ghareeb X Diamond Jewel Forever, by Diamond Rock), finished 43th after one rail down in today’s show jumping.
The CIC3* division continues with cross country tomorrow at 1 p.m. (6 p.m. EST). Tiana and Ninja will jump at 1:45 p.m. (8:45 a.m. EST). The CCI2* will show jump at 9 a.m. (2 p.m. EST). You can watch it all live and free here.
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