MIKEY Pender and Marion Hughes’ Miss Belgium III won the five-year-old final, sponsored by NV Stables Ltd, on Sunday morning in Cavan.

Miss Belgium III is a Belgian-bred mare by Der Senaat III, out of Pandora (by Indoctro), who was bred by Alan Waldman.

A total of 35 combinations qualified for the final and of these 13 made it through to the jump-off.

First in was John Mulligan riding his own mare Lough Seur Sarlady (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan x Able Albert). They set the pace with a clear round in a time of 33.31 which was eventually good enough for fourth place.

Darragh Ryan was next with Greg Broderick’s BP Elecktro. By Olympic Lux, this well-related gelding is out of Ballinakill Clover (by Clover Hill), bred by Dr Noel Cawley, making him a half-sister to Nations Cup performer Cruise On Clover (Thomas Ryan) and multiple Grand Prix winner Golden Exchange (Greg Broderick).

An ongoing six strides from fence one to two, a fast seven strides from three to four, and a tight six strides from fence four to the double at five meant Ryan stopped the clock at 32.51 which would slot them into the runner-up spot.

Pender was third to go and he too managed six strides from one to two, and the tight left-hand turn in just seven strides to fence three to four. A flying eight-stride finish from the double to the final fence gave Pender the fastest time of the day in 31.64 to secure the win.

Catherine Thornton riding her own and Patricia Kavanagh’s Irish-bred mare Drumiller Sensation (Arko III x Puissance) were fourth to go. They produced a clear round in 32.69 which would be good enough for third place.

UNRUSHED

The Swedish-bred gelding Casual Citizen (Cassini II x Corland), ridden by Eddie Moloney took his time with an unrushed clear round as fifth to go.

Rebecca McGoldrick and Athletic Hero Z had the final fence down for four faults, before David Moran and Silvermines Flex (Flex A Bill x Clover Hill) fared better with a fault-free round in 33.97 to occupy sixth place.

Damien Griffin riding the very impressive Celtic Hero BZ and Peter Smyth with Bonmahon Copper Bridge then both chose a more cautious approach with their youngsters, both left all the fences intact but in times that would see them out of the top-six.

Gabriel Tunney and Candy Man (Sligo Candy Boy x Lux Z) produced a clear round in a time of 33.91 to slot into fifth place.

John Mulligan with Sliabh Papillion Breaker and John McLaughlin with Lincourt Luidam both managed clear rounds but finished out of the final line-up.

Last to go was Paul Carberry riding Cranny West they had the second fence down to finish on four faults.