British rider Fraser Duffy holds a 1.6 point lead after the first day of dressage in the international two-star at Blarney Castle. Duffy (25), was originally disappointed with his test on Douglas Dobson's 11-year-old chestnut mare Oakengrove Rainbow. But the judges thought otherwise and put him ahead just before the coffee break, and he was still out in front at close of play yesterday afternoon.

Tipperary born and bred Rozzie Watson, who left the junior ranks only last year, put in a personal best with the lovely Cruising mare Floating to slot into second place on a mark of 51. She is fractionally ahead of Jane O'Flynn, who is a mere 0.2 off the pace with the 10-year-old Braveheart.

Kevin Smyth, winner of the Blarney one-star last year with Elizabeth Kroeger's Meeng Rule, is currently in fourth with Meeng Morning, with Scarvagh House Stud representatives Becky George and Wee Hot Toddy only a hair's breadth adrift in fifth.

Caroline Bjoerk has a 4.2 point advantage over her closest rival in the one-star field with nine-year-old Just Nimbus.

Bantry-based Swissman Heinz Wehrli is next in the pecking order with Dan Murphy's lovely grey mare Shannonvale Bird, holding on to second by the slimmest of margins from Tattersalls director George Mernagh and The Brief.

Meanwhile, at the Nations Cup meeting in Hickstead, Kevin Babington claimed yesterday's British Grand Prix on Carling King by just under half a second from Germany's Rene Tebbel on Radiator. And just to perfect the Irish tune-up for this afternoon's defence of the Nations Cup, Peter Charles rode Carnavelley into third place, while Dermott Lennon was fifth with Garronturton Lady.