Tara Dunne

PETER Smyth claimed the final leg of the Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix league last weekend, claiming victory with Victoria Rose by finishing over three seconds faster than his challengers in Saturday’s €4,000 league closer at Barnadown.

The penultimate rider in the clocked round of the Equine International Shipping-sponsored class, Smyth had the measure of Tom Holden’s course and was one of only five double clears on the day. The northern rider logged an exceptionally fast round of 42.82 seconds to clinch the win and ensure the maximum 15 points on offer.

By Limmerick, James McKean’s Victoria Rose is a dependable mount for Smyth. The long-standing partnership has proven competitive at both National and Premier Series Grand Prix level and this season proved to be no exception, with the pair featuring in the Grand Prix at Louth County, Barnadown and the Premier Grand Prix at Cork Summer Show.

Smyth may have stolen the limelight on the day but it was Vincent Byrne who took the league title. Going into the final leg, the league remained wide open with Alexander Butler, Greg Broderick and Byrne all in contention with points and a half on offer on the day.

However it all went Byrne’s way when Butler was left to watch the jump-off from the sidelines and Byrne’s runner-up finish on the day secured him the title. Second to go in the 13-strong timed decider, the 22-year-old Kilkenny rider stayed cool under pressure and set the bar high for the following riders by stopping the clock at 45.26 with Hannibal V Overis Z.

Speaking afterwards, Byrne said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I had decided to focus on the league quite early on and it’s nice to actually achieve it. The last two legs before this hadn’t really gone my way so I was seven points behind Alexander heading into the final and Greg was also a threat. It was coming from all angles. It was a long shot but I knew it was still possible.”

Commenting on the jump-off, Byrne added: “Hannibal was very good, there was a lot asked of him. I knew that the time could be caught but I thought I had done enough to put the pressure on. Peter’s round actually really benefited me because he left Greg so much to do then. It was a long wait after I jumped to see what way it worked out.”

Byrne finished up by saying: “There was huge pressure on but at the same time I was very content with what I had done over the year and how the horses had performed so I managed to stay quite relaxed by thinking of it that way and it all worked out for me.”

Byrne had every reason to be pleased with his horses, with the two filling the top two places in the horse leaderboard after a very successful season. The winning horse accolade went to James Weldon’s 10-year-old Ard VDL Douglas-sired Mr Rockefeller, who won a total of five legs as well as taking the second position on one occasion.

By Heartbreaker, Hannibal V Overis Z has also proven consistent throughout the league with seven placings to his name. Owned by Martin Walsh of Shannondale Stud the nine-year-old stallion has youngstock on the ground already, with the oldest, a five-year-old, starting to show great promise.

Third place on the day went to Thomas O’Brien with Amaretto. Coming within striking distance of the then-leading time, O’Brien recorded a time of 45.30 with the Connaught Bloodstock’s Numero Uno gelding.

Francis Connors, double-handed in the jump-off, had played pathfinder aboard the nine-year-old Lux Z gelding Hyperion and had set the original standard at 46.21, which held for fourth place in the line-up.

Coming in the latter half of the clocked round to log the last of the clear rounds was Darryl Walker with Cushions. Walker put in a solid performance with the eight-year-old Flexible mare to secure fifth place when the clock showed 46.89. Ger O’Neill proved the fastest of the four faulters to take the last of the money in sixth position. Riding Sharon Fitzpatrick’s 10-year-old Acorado mare Isacorada, O’Neill faulted early but didn’t let up on the pace, crossing the line in a time of 45.19.