HTS CARNANBREAGHA, ridden by John Floody, won the 1.35m TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour Grand Prix in Cavan last Sunday. The third and final Grand Prix of the weekend attracted a small field of 26 riders and Floody won out after a seven-horse jump-off.

Speaking after the win, Floody told The Irish Field: “I’m delighted with the win. He’s a really nice horse. I’m really pleased for his owner Clare Craig. She has been with me for many years, she bought him as a four-year-old and has always thought that he had the potential to do the big classes so she is over the moon with this win.

“I have had him (HTS Carnanbreagha) since he was four years old, he’s a very talented horse which I’ve brought along slowly. He jumped all the age classes and had a good bit of success throughout. He is an easy horse to ride and is a lovely model. He has plenty of scope and jump and is careful.

“He’s an exciting horse for the future for me I think. He will be doing the National Grand Prix classes this year and all going well we will aim him towards the Premier Series as well.”

Talking about the jump-off, the winner added: “On Sunday I had the advantage of having already gone with my first horse, Donevan Erkindale, who had an unlucky fence down. I learned a lot from that round. I also got to see Robyn (Moran) go with her grey horse so I knew what I had to do to win.

“I kept up a good pace all the way; you had to be careful and give the fences the respect they deserved, you couldn’t just go galloping at them. But it worked out well for me so that was great.”

Floody leads the league with Accidental Diamond, but just by four points after he withdrew the horse from Sunday’s class. “I had planned to compete with Accidental Diamond, who is currently leading the league, but he took a couple of sore steps in the warm-up so I withdrew him. He was in good form but just didn’t seem right to me. I was very disappointed not to compete with him, especially with the position he is in in the league.

“He is absolutely fine now, thank God, he must have just knocked himself in the stable, so I plan to compete with him in Kernans this week.

“It’s tricky enough for almost everyone right now. With this war, the price of fuel has almost doubled which has to make you think before you decide to travel to shows. Everything has become so expensive; even running the tractor and feed has all gone up in price. You have to think where will it end?

“It is making it a sport for the more wealthy which is such a pity. Everyone should be able to own a horse and jump a horse. It shouldn’t have to come down to how much money you have. But it looks like that is how the sport is going unfortunately.”

Small field

A small field of 26 lined out for the 13th round of the league which offered a €2,500 prize fund. Floody took the top-spot, crossing the finish in a time of 31.42 aboard the nine-year-old HTS Carnanbreagha (Sir Shutterfly x Aldatus Z).

Young rider Robyn Moran was runner-up riding Vera Griffin’s eight-year-old Cushlas Fryday (Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve x Apache D’Adriers) in 32.93. This is the pair’s third time to finish in second place during this league, having taken the runner-up spot in Killossery Lodge and Wexford, and Moran won the round on St Patrick’s Day with Coolminga Inspector Royal.

Catherine Thornton slotted into third place with another eight-year-old, her own and David Campbell’s Coachella (Ustinov x Cruising), who was bred by Tom and Linda Magee, stopping the clock at 35.29.

Fourth place went to Grace McHugh with GMH Sporthorses’ Dutch-bred Berlios Van De Karel; they produced a jump-off clear round in 35.50.

Floody and his second mount Donevan Erkindale slotted into fifth as the fastest four falter, while young rider Tom Keville and Chimay finished in sixth.

Floody now holds a four-point lead at the top of the table with Accidental Diamond on 43 points, ahead of Robyn Moran with Cushlas Fryday (39) and Jackilynn Breslin in third with Castfield Cass (33).

The next and 14th round of the TRM/Showjumpers Club Spring Tour takes place in Kernans Equestrian tomorrow, Sunday, March 27th.