Eddie Macken brought out an eight-year-old Dutch stallion, aptly named Holland, to win the Grade A class in the main arena at the RDS yesterday.
Holland, by Concorde out of a Nimmerdor mare, is owned by Macken's German backer, Michael Nixdorf, and he opened a few eyes in his winning round with the Irish senior team captain. The dark bay's popularity as a sire of jumpers has meant that he has spent much of his early career at stud rather than in the ring, but yesterday's win signals a bright future in the competitive arena.
"Holland has been with me since the beginning of last year, but because he was covering mares he only did four shows last season and hasn't done much more this year either, so he's very inexperienced," Macken said.
It may have been this lack of match practice which prevented his rider asking too many tough questions in the jump-off for the opening day's Grade A honours, in which they finished fifth, but yesterday morning Holland was allowed to show all his undoubted ability.
Second to go in a five-horse deciding round, Macken took the hand-brake off and made some superb turns to reach the finish line with the timing clock showing 37.72. This target came under attack from Macken's team mate Peter Charles and Nusria, another international prospect in the making, but they finished a half-second off the pace to take second place.
This was Charles's second time in succession to occupy the runner-up position, and this consistent, if frustrating, result leaves him heading the points table for the John Higgins and Corry memorial trophies, which will be finally decided in the third Grade A class on Sunday morning.
The opening-day winner, Capt Tom Freyne, made a valiant bid to repeat the feat in yesterday's class. But, last to go against the clock with Marlton, the Army man left two rails on the ground, which wiped out the effect of his time of 36.58 - the fastest of the day - and dropped him to fifth place.
In the Simmonscourt arena Freyne's McKee Barracks colleague, Capt Gerry Flynn, scored a virtual whitewash, winning the Grades B and C class with Carraig Dubh and taking first and second in the six-year-old event with Rincoola Abu and Cruise Hill.