PETER SMYTH captured his first victory of the 2017 Allianz Autumn Grand Prix league in Kernan’s Equestrian Centre last Sunday.

Riding Kathleen Gallagher’s 12-year-old mare Cruising Lux (Lux – Cruising), Smyth proved best in the timed jump-off to secure the win in the €2,000 Aiken Promotions-sponsored class.

Speaking after the win, Smyth said: “I’m delighted to have won here in Kernan’s today. This venue has always proved kind of lucky for me. The horse I was riding was Cruising Lux. I rode her as a five and six-year-old and just got her back last year and she is one of my favourite horses.

“I had watched Alex (Butler) and Barry McCormick go and they had gone round to the oxer and I thought that Cruising Lux could make the turn inside, I thought that was my best bet and luckily it paid off.

“We are off to Eglinton next week, which is a local show to me so hopefully we can have a good result there too.”

A total of 42 combinations lined-out for the 1.35 metre third round of the league. Just 12 made it through to the timed decider over Paric Geraghty’s course.

Pathfinder was Smyth with his first mount the 10-year-old gelding Roscrib de Ross (Varo – Flagmount King). A run-out at the second fence saw their chances fade away early on.

Next to go was Hayley Dunne and Aston D’la Rousserie. They left all the fences and set the target in a time of 46.22 which would prove good enough for eventual fifth place.

Cavan winner John Floody was third in with Shalamar Cassino. They too went clear but were not fast enough and had to settle for eighth place.

The next two contenders Tom Hearne (Intis) and Alex Butler (Copperhead Cruise) collected four faults apiece. Hearne’s coming at the third fence and Butler’s at the sixth.

Barry McCormack and his own Armani Velvet then produced a clear round with an impressive left-hand into the third fence seeing them stop the clock at 40.95 which would be good enough for fourth place.

Jonathan Smyth then managed to slice almost five seconds off that time in 35.99 to catapult himself and Mulvin Lui into the top-spot. Owned by Roy Craig and Noletta Smith, Mulvin Lui is a seven-year-old gelding by Luidam out of Castleconnor Baron by Baron De Chantepie.

A good record this summer in both the ISH seven-year-old classes and the RDS qualifiers, as well as decent results in the Cavan indoor championships and now an excellent round in his first time at the 1.35 division proves that this could be one to watch going forward. Shannon MacKenzie and Castletara Lady Lux then had two fences down for eight faults to put them out of the running.

As ninth to go, Mary McShane and MMS Camilla produced a fault-free round in a time of 46.96 to slot into sixth place.

Always a threat, John Floody and Ballyknock Diamond began well and recorded a good clear in a decent time of 36.22 which see them finish in third place overall.

Smyth was next and sticking to his plan he did a tight turn to the oxer and wasted no time anywhere else to break the finish beam in a time of 34.61. He was over a second faster than his closest rival Jonathan Smyth who took the runner-up spot.

Last to go was Jonathan Smyth and his second mount Ping Ball. They collected four faults when the back bar of the oxer at fence three hit the ground.

The next two rounds of the Autumn League take place tomorrow (October 8th) with the 1.40 metre in Eglinton and the 1.35 metre round in Maryville.

ALLIANZ MINI GP LEAGUE

All five classes on the day at the Allianz Mini Grand Prix league Horse Show hosted by Kernan’s EC last Sunday were sponsored by Aiken Promotions.

The day’s sport kicked off with the one-metre two-phase class with top place going to Margaret Fullerton on her own HHS Funkytown, in 38.19 seconds.

Fourth to go in the 1.10m class was Tom Hearne on Shanroe Socialite whose double clear in a time of 31.26 proved unbeatable. Second went to William Anderson on Eleo and third to local girl Lauren McCabe on Zentus T.

First place in the two-phase 1.20m class went to Shannon McKenzie on Dyolite whose fast time of 39.73 could not be improved upon. Second went to Co Down’s Dermott Lennon on Estoril and third place to William Anderson on Darragh Moylough Vision giving him his second ribbon of the day.