WINNER of the Autumn Grand Prix in 2015 and 2016, John Floody got a good head start in his bid to claim the 2017 title as he recorded another win in the series when taking the honours in the Leovet and DPl Limited-sponsored Allianz Mini Grand Prix at Wexford Equestrian last Saturday. This is the second recent win for Floody, having won the 1.40m division at Cavan in the opening round, and it places him at the top of the leaderboard on 24 points.

There was another good turnout with 36 declaring to jump. From those, 10 went in to the jump-off.

Going third in the jump-off with HTS Blackrock, Floody set the bar high when he lodged the winning clear time in 39.13. In the jump-off, time could be made up from the off and Floody made every opportunity as he cut in tight from the start. Setting off in a determined pace, he got the upper hand in the turn back to the second fence and then later to the double at four. With a win in sight, he threw caution to the wind in the turn back to the penultimate and then on to the dog leg at the last.

Speaking after the win, John Floody said: “I have been riding the stallion for a few years now and he has always been very consistent. He is very quick against the clock and I knew that I could push him. He is a super stallion with a very good temperament and a good brain, so that makes my job a bit easier. He has moved up to this level very well and hopefully he will continue to move up the ranks. I am delighted for his owner Brian Kernan as he has invested a lot into the industry in terms of breeding very nice horses.

“I also started riding HTS Carnanbreagha (Sir Shutterfly x Ballybunion Aldatus), which is a four-year-old bred by Brian Kieran and now owned by Clare Craig and I think this is one to watch for the future.”

Of the jump-off, he commented: “It’s always difficult going early and I knew that I had to lodge a clear that would put the pressure on. Thankfully it worked out.”

Bred by his owner Brian Kiernan of Heynestown Stud in Dundalk, HTS Blackrock is a 10-year-old stallion by Rhyne Clover out of a Diamond Chin Mare Marilyn D Chin. HTS Blackrock has three offspring registered, two were bred by Kiernan, HTS Black Willow and HTS Redrock. Peter Barnwall has also one foal on the ground by the stallion which is out of Nethercross Tally.

Waterford native Paddy O’Donnell was hot on Floody’s heels as he took it on with the Maeve Al Aidarous-owned Louis D’Or, but despite a good pace, a clear in 42.50 seconds proved good enough for second place. A 13-year-old gelding by Landcapitiol and out of a Grannus-sired mare Gina, this was the pairing’s first show and the gelding’s first Grand Prix outing for some time having previously been campaigned by Olive Clarke in 2014 up to Grand Prix level.

O’Donnell didn’t go home too disappointed as he also took fourth place with his own Minority Report.

A speed combination against the clock, O’Donnell was up on target at the midway point, but four faults at the penultimate and crossing the line in 36.08, saw his hopes of a win dashed.

Fellow Waterford rider Francis Connors separated O’Donnell’s placings when he delivered the last of the double clears with Billy Daly’s home-bred Newmarket Clare Lady in 42.99.

Vicky Anderson and Zack also proved that the time could be beaten when they clocked 37.88, but an unlucky four faults meant that she had to contend with fifth place on this occasion. Floody returned to take another place in the line-up when he partnered his winning mount at Cavan, Bronson De Reve, into sixth when he crossed the line carrying four faults in 38.85.W

Leovet & DPl Limited 1.25m

Earlier in the day, O’Donnell took the win in the 1.25m class with Declan McGivern’s Hey There Delilah when they lodged a clear in 27.44. Francis Connors accounted for the next two placings when he delivered a clear with East Wind in 30.96 for second and a clear with HVL Consun in 34.10 for third.

Taking fourth place were Eddie Moloney and Finnisk Beowulf, clear in 34.93, ahead of Tadhg Kearney and Fanta M, clear in 35.32. O’Donnell was back in the ribbons when he took sixth place with his own Queen Of The Castle when clear in 36.80.