IT was a well worthwhile trip from Dublin to Cork for Capt. Geoff Curran last Sunday as he claimed two of the top places on offer in the Allianz Autumn Grand Prix.

Riding Galway Bay Liath (AES), Curran lodged the winning round when, as second last to go, he crossed the line with nothing to add in 37.47 seconds.

Speaking after the win, Curran said: “I was delighted with how all three horses jumped. Carnlea is a seven-year-old and I was really happy at how he handled the course. I asked a few questions of him but I didn’t push him. I really think he is a horse for the future. I had put in a very fast round with Shannondale Rahona which was enough to take Francis Connors off the top spot and to be honest, I thought that I had done enough to win in.

“Darryl Walker and Cushions followed after me and put in a very fast round. Going in with Galway Bay Liath, I knew that I would need to take a few calculated risks. I made up the time in taking out a stride between the last two fences.”

Commenting on the course, he added: “It was a straightforward enough track. In the first round, the last line took a bit of riding but with some very good combinations competing, I wasn’t surprised that 20 went through to the jump-off.”

Curran will now head to Mijas where he will be competing with six horses.

Not content with the win, Capt. Curran also took third place with the 11-year-old Shannondale Rahona, clear in 38.91. Curran also delivered a double clear with the seven-year-old Carnlea, clear in 44.79, which saw him also take eighth place in the line-up. Bred by Paddy Quirke, the Army Equitation School bought Carnlea as a five-year-old from Edward Little.

The winning mount, Galway Bay Liath is a nine-year-old gelding by Prince Des Vaux out of the Touch Stone-sired Simply Touch. Bred in Galway by Galway Bay Stud proprietor Justin Burke, who bought the dam (Simply Touch) eight years ago, she has proved to be a successful broodmare for the stud.

A half-brother of Galway Bay Easy Touch, Bundi Aki (Askoll Peter Pan x Simply Touch), is jumping on the circuit with Shane Goggins and delivering results.

On the international circuit, top American rider Rich Fellers is campaigning the eight-year-old Aurora’s Diamond (Jack Of Diamonds x Simply). This combination has also proved very successful and in June, they won the 1.35m at Spruce Meadows. Daddy Cool (Aldatus Z x Simply Touch) has also jumped up to CSI5*-W with Italian rider Roberto Cristofoletti. Burke has a four-year-old half-brother from the mare by Silvermines Cruising, whom he stands along with Guinness (KWPN).

Galway Liath is no stranger to success and has clocked up a series of results which includes a win in the Tattersalls National Grand Prix in June and sixth place in the Grand Prix at National Balmoral. In the international arena, the combination finished eighth in the speed class in Dublin this year and prior to this, they finished sixth in the Grand Prix in Millstreet CSI2* and a win in a Table A. Earlier in his career, the gelding was campaigned by Lt. David Power and also had a impressive record to show.

Despite being a double bill of the Autumn league, the round in Maryville was well supported. Over Tony Hurley’s designed course, 20 proceeded to the timed-round. In the jump-off, riders with a win in mind made up time from the turn back from fence three to seven.

Third last to go in the jump-off, Wicklow rider Darryl Walker negotiated a series of tight turns and a gallant attempt saw him take second place when he lodged a clear with Cushions in a time of 38.60. Winners of the National Grand Prix Championship in 2016, this combination has plenty of experience under their belt with wins at home and on the European circuit.

Owned by Manuela Martinelli, Cushions is an 11-year-old mare by Flexible out of the Flagmount Diamond-sired Ard Flo. Bred by Edward and Catherine Doyle, Cushions was brought up through the ranks by Edward Doyle before moving to Walker. The dam, Ard Flo, was also owned by the Doyle family and was competed by Edward Doyle on the national circuit. As a broodmare, she has proved very successful and one to watch is her full-sister, six-year-old Blankets, currently campaigned by Doyle on the national circuit.

Going early in the jump-off, Waterford rider Francis Connors put it up to the rest when he delivered a clear with Billy Daly’s nine-year-old Newmarket Clare Lady, in 39.43, which saw him take the lead and then eventual fourth. Darryl Walker was back in the line-up when he partnered Laura Durkin’s Kiss N Fly in 40.61. Jessica Burke completed the top-six line-up when she delivered a clear with Liam Nicholas’ Express Trend.

1.20M CLASS

Earlier in the day, victory in the 1.20m competition went to Martha Healy Walsh when she crossed the line with Serpent Of Lux in 33.04. Taking second place was Amy Pollmann-Daamen and KEC Mona Mia, clear in 34.94. Jessica Burke and Express Trend filled third place, clear in 36.32. Eventer Trish Ryan took fourth place with Tullineaskey Hi Ho, clear in 36.87, ahead of her husband Michael Ryan riding One Kamula who delivered a clear in 38.34. In sixth place were Liza Hurley and Calypso Z, clear 38.35.