Two Irish in top 5 after thrilling Badminton Cross Country

Lucy Latta with RCA PATRON SAINT (Photo: Irish Eventing Times)

Cross Country day at the 2024 Badminton Horse Trials saw a huge shake-up at the top of the leaderboard, with two Irish riders fighting their way into the top five.

Wexford’s Lucy Latta, who is competing at Badminton for the very first time, produced the fastest time of the day with RCA Patron Saint to jump a massive 43 places up and into third place overall. Latta, who is bidding to become the first Irish winner at Badminton since Major Eddie Boylan triumphed on Durlas Eile in 1965, is now less than two fences behind leader Tim Price (NZL) with Vitali.

It was also a memorable day for Meath’s Sarah Ennis who is now in fifth place after a brilliant Cross Country performance with Grantstown Jackson, bred in Waterford by Caroline Widger. 

The new Badminton champion will be crowned on Sunday evening following the final Show Jumping phase.

BREEDING – Irish-bred horses at Badminton 2024

Grantstown Jackson (ISH)[TIH] – 2011 gelding by Clover Brigade (ISH)[TIH] out of Winning Lass (TB) by Right Win (TB)[IRL]. Breeder: Caroline Widger. Rider: Sarah Ennis (IRL) 

SAP Talisman (ISH)[TIH] – 2011 gelding by Puissance (ISH)[TIH] out of Ali Row (TB)[IRL] by Ali-Royal (TB)[IRL]. Breeder: Rosemary Ponsonby (Tipperary). Rider: Sam Watson (IRL)

Romantic (ISH) – 2012 mare by Cevin Z (ZANG) out of Polly Teapot [ISH] by The Carnival (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Andy Sheehy (Limerick). Rider: Rosie Bradley-Hole GBR)

Poetry in Motion (ISH) – 2013 gelding by Yeats (ISH)[TIH] out of Woodville Soap (ISH) by Lux Z (HANN). Breeder: Evelyn Casserly (Laois). Rider: Richard Coney (GBR)

Majas Hope (ISH)[TIH] – 2007 gelding by Porter Rhodes (TB) out of Brown Sue (ISH)[TIH] by Flagmount King (ID). Breeder: Jack Murphy (Kilkenny). Rider: Pippa Funnell (GBR)

Native Spirit (ISH) – 2009 gelding by Corragarry Cruising Porsch (ISH) out of an unnamed mare. Breeder: David Pickens (Cavan). Rider: Louise Harwood (GBR)

Capels Hollow Drift (ISH) – 2011 gelding by Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan (BEWB) out of Lucky Crest (ISH)[TIH] by Lucky Gift (TB). Breeder: Jeanette Glynn (Clare). Rider: Tom Jackson (GBR)

Brookfield Inocent (ISH) – 2009 gelding by Inocent (KWNP) out of Shalies Pet (ISH)[TIH] by Kings Servant (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: John Mulvey (Wicklow). Rider: Piggy March (GBR)

CHF Cooliser (ISH)[was Coaliser] – 2010 mare by Womanizer (KWPN) out of Super Spring (ISH) by Ramiro B (BWP). Breeder: Raymond Carroll (Offaly)

Away Cruising (ISH) – 2007 gelding by Cruise On (ISH)[TIH] out of Parklands Princess [ISH] by Able Albert (TB). Breeder: Eamon O’Flaherty (Kildare). Rider: Harry Meade (GBR)

Cavalier Crystal (ISH) – 2010 mare by Jack of Diamonds (SWB) out of Cavalier Iris (ISH) by Cavalier Royal (HOLST). Breeder: Thomas Horgan, Co Waterford. Rider: Harry Meade (GBR)

HD Bronze (ISH) – 2006 gelding by Limmerick (HOLST) out of Northern Madera (TB) by Toca Madera (TB). Breeder: Declan Phillips (Antrim) Rider: Harry Mutch (GBR)

A Class Cooley (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Heritage Fortunus (HANN) out of New Years Clover (ISH)[TIH] by Clover Echo (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Norman E Watt (Tyrone). Rider: Wills Oakden (GBR)

Arklow Puissance (ISH)[TIH] – 2011 gelding by Puissance (ISH)[TIH] out of Cruising Jewel (ISH)[TIH] by Cruising (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Michael Byrne (Wicklow). Rider: Wills Oakden (GBR)

Ballycoog Breaker Boy (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Womanizer (KWPN) out of Ballycoog Bonnie (ISH)[TIH] by Bonnie Prince (TB). Breeder: Louise M Godkin (Wicklow). Rider: Will Rawlin (GBR) 

SRS Kan Do (ISH) – 2010 gelding by VDL Arkansas (KWPN) out of La Vie En Rose (ISH) by Touchdown (ISH). Breeder: Michael Donner (Westmeath). Rider: Kylie Roddy (GBR)

KND Steel Pulse (ISH)[was MGH Carver Doone] – 2011 gelding by Tinaranas Inspector (WESTF) out of Lady Lux. (ISH) by Olympic Lux (KWPN). Breeder: Kevin Daly (Cork). Rider: Tom Rowland (GBR)

Class Affair (ISH)[was BGS Class Affair] – 2009 gelding by OBOB Quality 004 (OLD) out of Ruby’s Rosshaven Flight [ISH] by Laughtons Flight (ISH)[TIH]. Breeder: Maurice O’Brien (Kilkenny). Rider: Zara Tindall (GBR)

Monbeg Exclusive (ISH) – 2011 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Colen Mo Chroi (TB) by High Roller (TB). Breeder: Noel O’Brien (Tipperary). Rider: Max Warburton (GBR)

Diamond Sundance (ISH) – 2006 gelding by Sunny Boy (KWPN) out of KEC Costello Diamond [ISH] by Glidawn Diamond (ID) Breeder: William Kennedy (Kerry). Rider: India Wishart (GBR)

Cooley Lafitte (ISH)[was Kilcorig Je Taime] – 2012 gelding by Je T’aime Flamenco (BWP) out of Graf Shenanigans (ISH) by Scirocco D’Elle (ENCI). Breeder: Nigel Jackson (Antrim). Rider: Jesse Campbell (NZL)

CBI Aldo (ISH) – 2015 gelding by Goodluck VDL (KWPN) out of KMS Eclipse (ISH) by Ramon (KWPN). Breeder: Raymond Carrol, Co Offaly. Rider: Caroline Powell (NZL)

Greenacres Special Cavalier (ISH) – 2013 mare by Cavalier Royale (HOLST) out of Greenacres Touch (ISH) by Touchdown (ISH). Breeder: Michael Callery (Meath). Rider: Caroline Powell (NZL)

Copper Beach (ISH) – 2006 gelding by Radolin (KWPN) out of Cloverballen (ISH). Breeder: Paddy Daly (Offaly) Rider: Bruce Davidson Jnr. (USA)

Morswood (ISH) – 2008 gelding by Ricardo Z (ZANG) out of Princess in Arms (ISH)[TIH] by Present Arms (TB). Breeder: John Doherty (Louth). Rider: Alexandra Knowles (USA)

Game Changer (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Cassidee (SWB) out of Stormchaser (TB) by Titus Livius (TB). Breeder: Liam Webb (Carlow). Rider: Grace Taylor (USA)

Kilcannon Ramiro (ISH) – 2012 gelding by Ramiro B (BWP) out of Flick Princess (ISH)[TIH] by Kildalton King (ID). Breeder: Mary Bolger. Rider: Darragh Byrne (IRL)

Heartbreaker Star Quality (ISH) – 2011 mare by Boswell MR Heartbreaker (ISH) out of Killard Quality (ISH) by OBOS Quality 004 (ISH). Breeder: Cora Horan. Rider: Libby Seed.