DENIS Lynch secured the biggest win of his season so far when claiming the $400,000 Grand Prix at the Hong Kong Longines Masters on Sunday afternoon.

Having spent the beginning of 2019 building back up his string of horses to compete at this level, Lynch has added exciting prospects to his stables, including the 12-year-old gelding Chablis.

The feature class of the week saw just five of the starting combinations produce a clear round over the 1.60m track. Twelve returned for the jump-off, but it was only Lynch and Frenchman Simon Delestre who could keep a clean sheet.

Lynch’s time of 39.35 seconds was good enough for the top place on the podium and $132,000, just ahead of Delestre and Uccello de Will (0/0 47.07). Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer guided About A Dream to third place when faulting once against the clock in a time of 38.56 seconds.

“I never see myself as a favourite,” said Lynch after the win. “But I didn’t feel the pressure. Pressure is for tyres. This is a new horse for our stable so I am over the moon. I’m just very, very proud of this horse.

“The course designer today did an amazing job. It was exciting for us and for the fans and they really get behind you here in Hong Kong. What EEM (organisers) are doing here is growing every year. The crowd just go with you [over the jumps] and that’s very nice,” the Tipperary native added.

The combination had finished fourth in a 1.50m winning round class earlier in the week, with a clear round in 36.28 seconds, just ahead of Wexford’s Bertram Allen in sixth place aboard Izzy by Picobello (0/0 36.72).

Allen got a win of his own in Saturday’s 1.50m Table C Speed and Handiness competition. Riding the nine-year-old gelding Christy Jnr, Allen scored 60.47 to take victory and earn $33,000. Frenchman Patrice Delaveau filled the runner-up position, ahead of his teammate Kevin Staut.

“I’m delighted and my horse ran superbly. The people here in Hong Kong really love it. They really enjoy their time and watching the horses. I love it,” a delighted Allen said afterwards.

Allen was the joint-winner in Saturday’s Six Bar with Izzy by Picobello. He was among four to go through to the fifth and final round, when all four faulted once to share the winners’ prize of $3,500.