THE fact that the top-five horses in last Sunday’s 1.40m Cavan Grand Prix were aged eight years old or younger, goes to show the exciting batch of talented young horses we can look forward to in 2025.

Ballywalter Stables’ seven-year-old gelding Elite Della Caccia (Elvis ter Putte x Cardento) was guided to the top-spot in the €3,000 Showjumping Ireland-sponsored class by Daren Hopkins.

A total of 11 of the 52 starters produced a first round clear over the Gueorgui Gueorguiev and Stuart Clarke designed track to progress to the timed decider. Hopkins was lucky enough to be drawn last to go in the jump-off and, having seen what his competition had done, knew exactly what was needed for the win.

The duo crossed the finish line in a time of 38.32, well ahead of their closest competition to secure the title.

Ellie Humphries and the Jane Allen Collins-owned and bred eight-year-old mare Lougherne Kingfisher (Colestus x Limmerick) took the runner-up spot, when they broke the beams in 41.07 seconds.

Another eight-year-old home-bred, Yvonne Meaney’s Norway Grace (Aganix Du Seigneur x Lux Z) was partnered to third place by Olive Clarke in 41.61.

Jack Ryan, who had been pathfinder in the decider with Seamus Drea’s eight-year-old home-bred DSH Lucky Junior (BBS McGregor x Luidam), slotted into fourth place as the fastest four-faulters in a very quick 35.29.

Current National Champion Patrick Hickey and his brother William’s Belgian-bred gelding Down Under Z (Don’t Touch Tiji Hero x Cassini I) finished in fifth. They too had one fence down in a fast time of 35.77.

Jane Gibbons’ Belgian-bred gelding Cassius Z (Canabis Z x Up to Date M), ridden by her son Stephen Gibbons, completed the line-up in sixth place.