TINA GIFFORD, who topped the Balcas international field after the first day of dressage at Necarne Castle, is still out in front going into today's cross-country, even though Mr Macauley, her winner on Thursday, was demoted to third yesterday morning.

The British rider, bred in the purple for three-day eventing as daughter of National Hunt trainer Josh Gifford and former international show jumper Althea Roger-Smith, was temporarily deposed by top Irish jockey Jane O'Flynn yesterday. But O'Flynn, who is looking for a Necarne hat-trick after winning in both 1994 and last year, was herself relegated when Gifford produced a best ever test from O'Leary which, like his stable-mate, is a seven-year-old Irish export.

O'Flynn and Brindalus which missed out on third in the national last year, when hitting seven show jumps with owner Paula Stammschroer (formerly Connon), are sandwiched in between Gifford's two rides, with the British girl's compatriots Sarah Cotton and Charlotte Bathe divided by next best of the Irish, Sasha Harrison in fifth.

Rachelle Harding, who as Rachelle McCammon before her marriage earlier this year, headed the national field after the dressage 12 months ago, occupies the same slot with the chestnut gelding Glencool after the completion of the first phase. Glencool was an inexperienced seven-year-old at the 1995 fixture and disappeared from the reckoning across country, but his jockey is confident of a better result this time round.

Harding holds a substantial 5.8 point advantage over her nearest rivals, Gilly Tougher and Royal Albert, with Thursday's leaders Jo-.