BLARNEY CASTLE horse trials, is to upgrade to two star level for its June 13th-16th fixture. The county Cork three day event, which first appeared on the international calendar in 1993, had previously been a one star CCI designed for horses making the step up from national competition but, following the cancellation of this year's Punchestown horse trials, it was agreed that Blarney should apply for upgrading.

A dates clash with the German two star at Bonn Rodderberg resulted in protracted negotiations, but it has finally been agreed that Blarney would stage a two star fixture, which will suit horses originally aimed at Punchestown, as well as a one star national class, juniors and ponies.

Also on the horse trials scene - Castlepollard, the Army show jumper who was switched to eventing in a bid to earn Captain Gerry Flynn a place on the Irish Olympic squad, showed a dramatic improvement in form when finishing second in one of the novice divisions at Micknanstown, Stamullen, Co Meath on Sunday.

The 13 year old gelding, whose switch caused a lot of controversy, had made his eventing debut in Wexford the previous week and fell in the water jump. But intensive schooling in the intervening week resulted in a footperfect tour of Sunday's cross country to leave Castlepollard four points adrift of the seven years younger Lean ar Aghaidh and Maynooth student Diarmuid O'Brien.

Castlepollard, which won three Hickstead Speed Derbys for Captain John Ledingham, is expected to make one last appearance on home ground at Ashmount next Sunday before travelling to England for three outings on the British circuit. Only then will a final decision be made about the horse competing at the tough French three star in Saumur at the end of April. A good performance there could book Captain Flynn's ticket to Atlanta with the horse.