VINCENT Byrne took the biggest victory of his career to date when triumphant in the fifth leg of the TRM/Horseware New Heights Champions Series at Omagh Show with Hannibal V Overis Z.

A two-time winner of the National Grand Prix League, Byrne is certainly no stranger to the winner’s enclosure but Saturday’s €10,000 1.50m feature class was the Co. Kilkenny rider’s first time to come out in front at this level.

Byrne commented: “I’m absolutely delighted, it’s my first 1.50m win. Hannibal V Overis Z has been in great form. He’s been very consistent, double clear in the last three legs of the Series. I will aim to follow it now, obviously qualification for Dublin would be in the back of your mind but I do think with only two places on offer now it will be quite difficult. It was a pity to lose the third place and Greg (Broderick), Clem (McMahon) and Francis (Connors) all have a number of points.”

Martin Walsh’s Hannibal V Overis Z has indeed been exceptionally consistent over the past number of weeks. Taking a fifth place finish at the third leg of the Series at the CSI2* show at Mullingar, the 12-year-old stallion also finished fourth at the most recent round at Galway County.

By Heartbreaker, Hannibal V Overis Z is out of the Aira-sired dam Perhaps Vh Molenvondel and is fully approved, available out of Walsh’s Co. Clare based Shannondale Stud.

Byrne said: “Hannibal V Overis Z covered a lot last year, his earliest crop are eight-year-old now and I have a really talented mare by him, Primo Royale, which I hope to aim at the National Grand Prix league in Bannow and Rathangan later in the season.”

Paul Duffy designed the course for the 28 starting combinations which proved a worthy challenge. Fences fell at every point but most commonly causing faults was a double at the midway point of the course, a very square oxer on a four stride distance later in the track and the combination immediately following it.

With the top 25% coming back for a second round spectators were guaranteed a seven-horse jump-off but had to wait for the 12th competitor, Clem McMahon, to see the first fault-free round.

A further five found the key to Duffy’s track, leaving a single place available for the fastest four fault combination, Greg Broderick and Chinook II.

Although already carrying four faults, Broderick left no room for error for the remaining riders when stopping the clock at a very fast time of 40.64 seconds, with nothing to add, in the second round.

Stacey Babes was next to take it on but was put out of contention early when lowering the first obstacle aboard the eight-year-old Quidam de Revel-sired Quilimbo. Babes also lowered the penultimate vertical to finish on a score of eight in a time of 46.77.

Dermott Lennon looked set to feature with Gelvins Touch but although came closest to Broderick’s time when logging 41.13 proved out of luck when faulting on the home stretch. This pair have been on form of late finishing third in the Al Shira’aa Derby at Hickstead the previous week.

Byrne set a new benchmark when delivering what would prove to be the only double clear on the day, recording 43.88. Outlining his jump-off Byrne said: “I knew there were three fast riders left after I jumped so I couldn’t afford to be slow. I had to be quick enough to put a bit of pressure on them and it worked out that I had done enough.”

Kenneth Graham and George, fresh from a victory in Friday’s round of the National Grand Prix League, looked set to pull off a double but a refusal three from home saw them have to settle for a top six finish on this occasion when the clock showed 55.68.

Clem McMahon set off at a good pace with the Pacino-sired eight-year-old Hilton CMS Paparazzi but an early fence put them out of the running. A time of 42.94 would, however, stand for fourth position in the line-up.

Broderick, as last to go on his second mount, Charmeur, looked like he knew exactly where to find time, undoubtedly causing a few tense moments for Byrne, but a refusal at the final fence, the cottage, left him further down the line-up.

While Broderick may not have taken the victory on the day, he remains firmly on top of the leader board. Of five legs of the New Heights Champion Series, the Rio Olympian has won two and placed in the other three.

Three legs remain to decide the two riders that will qualify for the international classes at the Dublin Horse Show with the next round moving south to Cork Summer Show this weekend.