EMILY Moloney won her first Grand Prix of 2025 in Cavan last Sunday. Riding her father Eddie’s gelding Temple Alice, she proved best in the 12-way decider to secure the win.

The 13-year-old by Foxglen Cruise Control, out of Innishannon Shamrock, by Rantis Diamond, has been an amazing servant to the Moloney family since Eddie began competing him as a six-year-old.

Emily took over the ride in 2022 and the duo have rarely been outside the top-five in any of their 1.35m and 1.40m classes together.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Emily said; “This was really my first senior Grand Prix win, so we were delighted. It was a great way to start the year.

“I think I made up some time at the third fence, and then going into the second last also. He covers the ground easy, he’s just naturally quick.

“Looking forward, I’d love to be considered, once again, for the Junior European team, we just missed out last time finishing as a team in fourth, and individually in seventh, so I’d love the chance to go again and try and improve on both.

“I know this horse well, we’ve had him since he was six, so that is great. He’s naturally very fast and I really trust him.

I’d love to try and jump a bit bigger on him this year. My dad did 1.50m on him, so he is well able.

“I think we will do a few more of the Spring Tour league. I’ve two other horses, Tick A Lu and Cruising On The Ridge, that jumped well yesterday as well, so we’ll do a few of those and then hopefully the National Grand Prix league and take it from there.”

Jump-off

The 64 starters were soon to be reduced to an even dozen for the jump-off. Of these, just six managed to leave all the poles in place for a double clear round to claim the top-six placings.

Harrison Blair and L’Esprit Hero Z (Lexicon x For Pleasure) led the way in the jump-off. Setting the pace at 39.43, which would be good enough for eventual third place.

Ausra Clarke and Janco V then had one fence down. Moloney and her first mount Ian Smyth’s home-bred Cruising On The Ridge (Kannan x Ard VDL Douglas) also had one on the ground, as did last week’s winner Sven Hadley, this time aboard his own stallion Phenomene Bleu VDM (Diamant De Semilly x Nabab De Reve).

Harry Marshall and his own Morning Attraction (VDL Harley x Morgenster) had two down, while Michael Keane’s eight-year-old home-bred Billerough Tyson (Tyson x Ringwood Harley Carol) ridden by Bill Maguire went clear in 80.66 for fourth place.

Ausra Clarke and her second ride, the Dutch-bred Lord-Freeman were disqualified. Emily Moloney and Miriam Moloney’s eight-year-old Tick A Lu (Luidam x Clinton) also left the course intact in 43.65 fr fifth.

Jacqueline Gaines’ Castle Lux Clover (Boherdeal Clover x Lux Z) and Ruby Lily Gaines had one down, while John McEntee riding Linda Courtney’s home-bred eight-year-old LCC Monte Karlo (Casallco x VDL Arkansas) had two on the ground.

Crystal Tom (Silvano x Graf Magna) was then guided to the runner-up spot by Eve Donnelly in 39.34.

Carl Dore’s French-bred Helssinki produced a double clear round in 44.94 with Cian Dore in the saddle for sixth place.

Last to go was Moloney and Temple Alice. They stopped the clock at 38.64 to take the victory. The next, and third round of the Spring league takes place tomorrow in Broadmeadows.

1.20m

Cruicerath Flexianna provided Emily Moloney with her second win of the day, when the pair secured victory in the 1.20m, which included the six-year-old Hibernia Sport Horse league.

With a total of 65 of the 87 starters producing a double clear round, it became a very fast class, with each of the top-six posting a sub-26 second round.

Owned by Miriam Moloney, Emily’s mount is by Flex A Bill, out of Pannamarenca, by Holland. The experienced combination posted a second round time of 23.69, which was just ahead of closest rival John Murray riding Bukhara Cruise (Rehy High Society x Cruising) owned by Liz Murray, in 24.19.

Sven Hadley and HSH Harper Du Seigneur took third place in 24.53, while Pat Sheahan Jnr and Coille Mor Q were fourth.

Jamie Landers and David Hedley’s Belgian-bred Agana van’t Vossenhof Z finished fifth in 25.78, while sixth place went to Rachelle Harding’s RJC Second Bet (Hoeks Ludo W x Loughehoe Guy) in 25.79.

The highest placed six-year-old, in ninth place, was Ausra Clarke riding Gregory Clarke’s One Date, a gelding by Up To Date, out of Gretha, by Biscayo.