Another weekend, another $1m show jumping prizepot in the US and Kevin Babington is not without confidence.

Britain’s Ollie Townend returns to the Johnson and Perrott Land Rover Ballindenisk International Horse Trials on a horse he’s nicknamed Imperial Disaster, and Bandon-based Michael Ryan feels he’s still a good bet to win the Goresbridge Go For Gold €50,000 bonus.

Sarah Ennis was typically determined yesterday as she aimed to turn around a disappointing dressage score with BLM Diamond Delux in the feature CCI three-star at Tattersalls Horse Trials.

It could be argued that Sam Watson’s single-mindedness at Ballindenisk last week cost him a shot at the €50,000 bonus on offer next September.

Briton Ollie Townend doubled his chances of pocketing a €50,000 bonus next September when victorious with the Irish-bred Douglas at Ballindenisk International Horse Trials in Cork yesterday.

The flags of five countries will fly at Ballindenisk Horse Trials next week, as the Cork venue continues to build on its stature.

Ballindenisk will host the European Championships in 2019, if the Fell family ambitions are realised.

Ollie Townend set himself up for a crack at a €50,000 bonus with victory yesterday at the Johnson & Perrott Land Rover International Horse Trials in Ballindenisk, Co Cork, on a horse nicknamed Imperial Disaster.

Capt Geoff Curran trained his sights on Ollie Townend at the Johnson & Perrott Land Rover International Horse Trials in Ballindenisk yesterday, ruing that the Briton’s superb performance in the dressage had blown away what would generally be considered a respectable score from the Army officer.

A sun-drenched day in Ballindenisk, Co Cork that fell into the halcyon category, yet Sarah Ennis was “not happy”.

For most riders, the thrill and examination provided by the cross-country is the main attraction in eventing, and Vittoria Panizzon is not alone in finding that the dressage element lacks the same excitement.

Next month’s Johnson & Perrott Land Rover International Horse Trials in Ballindenisk is gearing up to be one of the best as the Cork venue again attracts the cream of international and national riders.

Camilla Speirs holds second place after dressage in the CIC short-format three-star at the Tattersalls International Horse Trials in Co Meath.

What proved a special weekend at Ballindenisk is set to be given the Olympic seal today when the FEI publishes the list of individual riders who have qualified for London.

Irish eventing was last night on course to have a team at the Olympics, after riders rose to the challenge in the Goresbridge Go For Gold International Horse Trials at Ballindenisk, Co Cork.

Shane Breen obviously hopes Billy Twomey and Denis Lynch secure places for Ireland at the Olympics, but he also believes it is logical there should be a “level playing field” when it comes to selecting who lines out in London.

NEXT MONTH’S Ballindenisk Horse Trials has attracted a stellar line-up, according to the organisers.

WHETHER it was by design, or co-incidental, one major theme emerged at last Tuesday’s National Equine Conference: The need for more thoroughbred blood in the sport horse population.

YOUNG rider Gerard Clarke continued his barnstorming run in the HSI Chippison Spring Tour in Barnadown, Co Wexford.

CIARAN GLYNN took over the best-of-the-Irish mantle in the HSBC World Cup Qualifier at Tattersalls, Co Meath, yesterday, when slotting into eighth at the end of the dressage phase.