Gain/Alltech Grand Prix Ballivor \ Róisín Sheridan

CLARTON Clazou Z, ridden by Seamus Hayes, won the 10th round of the National Grand Prix league in Ballivor, Co Meath last Sunday.

Speaking to The Irish Field after the win, the Tipperary rider said: “I’m really pleased with how he (Clarton Clazou Z) went. We’ve had him since he was seven years old and we’ve produced him up through the grades. He’s always been a bit sharp so we’ve just worked away at trying to keep him relaxed. I’ve never really pushed him too much. He’s always been a bit anxious but it seems to be coming together now.

“He had some good placings as a seven and eight-year-old but my main aim was to teach him to stay calm in the ring. He was third in Portmore recently and was clear in the 1.50m in Barnadown last year, the height is no problem for him at all. He’s just a little bit quirky, we’ve had to take our time with him but he seems to be getting there.

“He loves the grass and that was a really good field with great footing. There was plenty of room so I could let him go a little which was great.

“This was the same field they had for the show a couple of years ago, before Covid, and it was really nice. I think the organisers were disappointed with the turnout, I was a bit surprised myself, horses loved it.

“In the jump-off I just kept him moving forward, and that suits my horse, the more you let him gallop the better, the less you have to shorten him up and make him hot. I knew John (Floody) was coming behind me and he can be very quick so I didn’t hang around.

“We have a six-year-old for the qualifier in Mullingar this week Barra Sweetnam’s Swedish-bred mare Uphoria Di June. The plan is to continue to follow the National Grand Prix league and the Premier Series with Clarton Clazou Z and hopefully he will continue to improve,” said Hayes.

Low numbers

A less than expected field of just 14 combinations lined out for the 1.40m James Tarrant-designed track.

Just three managed to keep a first round score of zero to progress to the timed decider. Two riders, Andrew Hodgins (Sandra) and Luke Campbell (Derryinver Truffle), incurred a single time fault, while half a dozen had one fence down for four faults.

Hayes and his own German-bred Clarton Clazou Z (Clarissimo Z - Clinton) were pathfinders in the jump-off and laid down a second fault-free round in a time of 38.69 to set the target.

Next in Brendan Murphy and Gabriel Mullins’s nine-year-old gelding Zambia (Diamant De Semilly - Alba). They too left all the fences intact but in a slightly slower 39.84 for eventual second place.

John Floody riding Kathryn Magennis’ Accidental Diamond (Diamond Roller - High Roller) are always a threat against the clock and they were the final duo to have a go. An error at the first fence saw them collect four faults to claim third place.

Hodgins was fourth, Campbell fifth and Tadgh Mullingar (Creevagh Special) took sixth as the fastest four-faulter from round one. The next round of the National Grand Prix league takes place at the Cork Summer Show tomorrow (Sunday, June 19th) with the following round in Ard Chuain next Friday, June 24th.