Harry Marshall hit the headlines last week by issuing a High Court summons against the Show Jumping Association of Ireland. This was for loss of earnings due to being restricted to just one horse in the international classes at the Kerrygold Horse Show.
But the Co Antrim rider showed the selectors the error of their ways by riding the 10-year-old mare Cruiseline to victory in the Welcome Stakes yesterday afternoon.
"I've already proved I should be there," Marshall said. "I shouldn't have to prove it in the ring."
Marshall's writ is also for what he describes as "unforeseen loss of earnings" when two of the association's selection panel told him none of his three top rides was a jump-off horse.
Marshall's victory yesterday mirrored the result of his Dublin debut 20 years ago, when he won the Wylie Trophy with Gigolo.
Cruiseline's half-brother, Point Blank, has now been exported to America and Marshall left his other mare, Ollie's Party Piece, at home in Ballyclare after she was relegated to jumping in the Grade A classes.
"They stalled my future in the sport. If you analyse that statement, my career is stopped. But the win doesn't surprise me. I'm not being clever, she wins wherever she goes."
The victory was particularly impressive as the mare has been on light work in the past week due to lung inflammation caused by a dust allergy. "She's had no match practice. She's been on an inhaler for the past five days."
An unwieldly 25 horses jumped clear in the first round, but in hideously wet conditions, five of these decided to keep their powder dry for later in the week.
Included in that number were Ireland's Queen's Cup winner Jessica Kurten and Britain's Nick Skelton, who claimed last month's King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead with the 1998 Dublin Grand Prix winner, Hopes Are High.
Marshall was drawn ninth and galloped into the arena with grim determination written all over his face. The target to beat was John Whitaker's clear in 38.19 with Virtual Village Welham - and Marshall had Cruiseline in full gallop from the outset.
The mare rattled the back rail on the third after a huge stand-off, but she never slackened pace and flew the final two uprights to slash almost half a second off Whitaker's time for the win.
Italy's Roberto Arioldi put in his bid with Loro Piana Aramis but couldn't dislodge the top pair for third ahead of French veteran Michel Robert and Auleto. James Kernan was next best of the home side with Irish Fiction, to wind up a good day for the hosts after the line-up for the opening class displayed a high proportion of green jackets.
Unfortunately, the top slot was claimed by Germany's Rene Tebbel, who stole Captain John Ledingham's thunder by relegating the Irish Army rider in the dying moments of the Kerrygold Speed Stakes.