DONEGAL’s Kenneth Graham put his first points on the Gain Equine Nutrition/Alltech Ireland National Grand Prix leaderboard last Saturday when he delivered the winning round at the inaugural National Grand Prix Show at Connell Hill. Riding his own Beir Bua, he was the faster of just two double clears in the Earthtec Ltd-sponsored class and took home the winner’s share of the £4,000 on offer.

Speaking after the win, Graham said: “Delighted to win today and very appreciative of the Ulster Region getting a Grand Prix (fixture) so close to home. There were five in the jump-off and Gueorgui (Gueorguiev) had a great course set out today and I just went in and gave it a good go and thankfully it paid off. I have been riding Beir Bua since the end of her four-year-old year. She did the aged classes slowly and she is going great, just getting better and better.”

Graham added: “The Connell Hill team did a great job, and the surface was super. The plan is to follow the national series and do Kernan’s next week and then National Balmoral.”

Bred by the late Harold McGahern, the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare is by Lancelot out of the Cruising-sired Rincoola Bua. This combination has been in the results of late, taking third place in the HSI Premier Grand Prix in the Portmore Spring Championships in May. She also won the International Grand Prix at Cavan in 2019 and was placed at the Sunshine Tour in Spain at the start of the year at 1.45m level.

From the original starters, five booked their place against the clock and battled it out over the Gueorgui Gueorguiev-designed track.

First to go in the jump-off, Galway rider Sven Hadley proved out of luck when Topspin clipped the back pole of the first oxer. Hadley kept his foot on the accelerator and a series of tight lines saw him cross the line in 40.75 for eventual fifth. This combination has delivered on the national circuit already this season, claiming the 1.20m Munster Tour after being placed in each of the rounds. Topspin is a 14-year-old Swedish-bred mare by Etrusco out of the Richard Of York-sired Top Beauty.

Next up, Kenneth Graham knew what he needed to do as he took it on with the big striding Beir Bua. Graham made up time from the start, turning sharp from the first oxer left-handed to the vertical. From there he maintained the pace and kept it tight and negotiated a good turn to the double. A gallop home saw him clock the winning time of 36.49 seconds.

John McLaughlin opted for a more careful approach with his own Lincourt Luidam, taking the longer route back to fence two. Although he took a tight line to the penultimate oxer, he crossed the line in 53.91 which saw him pick-up two-time penalties and slot into third place. Bred by McLaughlin, the nine-year-old mare is by Luidam out of the Cavalier Royale-sired Lincourt Cavalier.

Jonathan Smyth set off in a determined place with Mulvin Lights and took the necessary tight turn from one to two. This matched with a great turn back to the penultimate oxer saw him on target. However, with the last pole falling to the ground, he had to settle for eventual fourth when he crossed the line in 37.85.

Owned by Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig, the gelding is a nine-year-old gelding by Kroongraaf out of the Diamond Serpent-sired Diamond Vicky.

All eyes were on the last to go, Sven Hadley and Uidam. Hadley made an extremely tight turn from one to two and again at the turn back to the oxer at seven. Despite a series of tight lines, he failed to match Graham’s pace and his time of 37.11 saw him slot into second place.

This combination has been in the winnings of late claiming the win in the 1.25m two phase and third in the accumulator in Mullingar CSI2*. They also proved to be a dominant force in the 1.30m Munster Tour, taking the final and the overall title. The 13-year-old mare was bred by Padraig Howley and is by Luidam out of the Cavalier Royale-sired Miss MacCar.

Fastest of the four-faulters in the first round were Edward Little and HSC Sunny Jim. Bred by her owner Heather Crawford, the eight-year-old gelding is by Pacino out of the Conquistador-sired Sunblest.

Speedy Cave wins 1.30m

Earlier, Michael Cave emerged as the winner of the 1.30m Jazz Sports Horses speed class. Riding the Tom Spence-owned Gortshalgan, he clocked the winning time of 61.46.

Bred by Jimmy Lawler, Gortshalgan is a 12-year-old gelding by Verdi out of the Cavalier Royale-sired Cavalier Lolla.

Sven Hadley was also in the ribbons in this class, taking the runner-up place with Topspin, clear in 63.61.

Hadley’s partner Tori Dunne joined him in the line-up when she partnered the Cavan Equestrian-owned Brookville Lux into third, clear in 68.81.

Fourth place belonged to Kenneth Graham who kept the poles in place with Dr. No Equinex Z, in 69.71.

Junior rider Alex Finney slotted into fifth place when she partnered the Gerry Marron-owned Absolutely Kingmar Z to a clear in 75.54, ahead of Zoe Woods and Without Permission in 80.29.