1.35m Grand Prix classes

YOUNG rider Cian Harrison and his own Captain Clover gelding Tabby came out on top in the competitive 1.35m Cavan Grand Prix on Sunday evening.

A start list of 49 combinations lined out for the competition which offered a €1,500 prize fund. Just four of the 49 managed to produce a double-clear round with Harrison recording the fastest time of 38.83 for the win.

Out of the Cruising mare Majestic Cruise, 16-year-old Tabby is no stranger to the winner’s enclosure having secured many National Grand Prix wins under her former rider Damien Griffin.

Harrison took over the ride in May 2018 and since then has guided her to a number of further Grand Prix placings including sixth in the Hughes Horse Show Grand Prix in May, fifth in the 1.50m Premier Series final in Barnadown in August, and most recently, a win in the 1.40m Grand Prix in Ard Chuain last month.

Second place went to Kevin Gallagher riding Elicia Edgar’s eight-year-old Belgian-bred mare Messenger VF in 40.25.

Aoibhin Phelan’s seven-year-old gelding Castle Lux Clover (Boherdeal Clover - Lux Z), bred by Jennifer Devlin and ridden by Sean Kavanagh, were third in 45.30.

Francis Connors and another seven-year-old, Jessica Stallard’s DHF Lift Off (Harlequin Du Carel - Mr Clover), slotted into fourth with the only other double clear round in 47.74.

Cormac McKay’s Jay Gatsby (Gatsby - Loughries Quiet Man) was ridden by Emily Turkington into fifth place, while Brendan Murphy and Ashley Stephens’ PNP Rocco (Chacoa - Farney Clover) were sixth.

Grand Prix win for Clarke

Meanwhile, in last Saturday’s 1.35m Grand Prix it was Gerard Clarke who rose to the top riding Patrick and Clare Sutton’s King Lupin (Lux Z - Cruising).

The pair crossed the finish line in a time of 32.53 for the victory in the eight-rider jump-off which saw just three combinations record a double clear round.

Second place went to Philip Carey’s seven-year-old French-bred mare Carrera Denfer in 32.96, ridden by Junior rider Robin Carey.

Hugh Fitzpatrick’s eight-year-old Erne Riverrun (Antaeus - Aldatus Z) with Francis Connors in the saddle took third with the only other double clear round.

Kevin Galagher riding another eight-year-old, Elicia Edgar’s Messanger VF, finished in fourth place as the fastest four-faulter, while Sean Kavanagh riding Rosemary Reynolds’ Carousel Gold (Caricello - Colourfield) was fifth, and Kenneth Granham and Regula Wassmer’s KEC Dorian (KEC Maximum Joe - Aldatus Z) took sixth.