THE first of three TRM/The Showjumpers Club Spring Tour Grand Prix fixtures to take place last week was at Warrington on St Patrick’s Day when Limerick rider Robyn Moran put her first win on the board in this league.

Riding Coolminga Inspector Royal, she lodged the winning round in 31.33 seconds in the eight-horse jump-off. The young rider, who finished as runner-up in the tour last year, also accounted for fourth place with Cushlas Fryday when coming home clear in 35.10.

Speaking after the win, Moran, who is now working for Marion Hughes and travels to Kilkenny three times a week, said: “There was a lot of entries (39) here today and they ran it as a two-phase which suited my horse as he likes to go into the ring and keep going. I have had him since he was a seven-year-old.

“I think the Spring Tour is very beneficial to young riders as you are competing with a lot of older riders with plenty of experience so you know you are up against it.”

Moran was also full of praise for Cushlas Fryday, adding: “He is a special horse and has proved very consistent on the circuit. Last year he won quite a few classes and won the Munster League.”

Owned and bred by James McMahon, Coolminga Inspector Royal is a 12-year-old gelding by Tinaranas Inspector out of Coolminga Cavalier (Garrison Royal). The Co Clare breeder has four other offspring from this dam, the youngest being a four-year-old by Orestus.

As a young horse, Coolminga Inspector Royal was campaigned by Geraldine McMahon, competing in the four-year-olds in Dublin Horse Show in 2014.

Moran took over the horse three years later and clocked up a series of results, which include qualifying for the Young Riders in Dublin in 2017, where they picked up a third place.

Owned by Vera Griffin and by John Peter Finlay, Cushlas Fryday is an eight-year-old gelding by Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve out of the Apache D’Adriers-sired dam Une Ardente De Vie (SF).

Big entry

Warrington attracted 39 combinations, one of the largest entries of the tour so far, and the €2,500 class was run as a two-phase.

Out of that field, just eight delivered double clears and the top six came home within the 40-second mark.

There was plenty of support for local young rider Marta Hughes Bravo who was just fractions behind the winner with HHS Figero when clocking 31.54 for second place. Owned and bred by her mother, Marion Hughes, the 16-year-old is by Guidam and is out of the Cavalier Royale-sired Dreaming of You.

Dublin’s Lt. James Whyte put in a good round with the Minister For Defence’s Hawthorn Hill and came home clear in a time of 33.48 to claim third place. The 10-year-old grey Cardento gelding was bred by Jerry Quinn out of the Limmerick mare Tummery Limelight.

Moran was fourth aboard Cushlas Fryday, ahead of Seamus Hayes who put his first points on the board when he took fifth place. The Tipperary man, who was riding his own 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding Clarton Clazou Z (Clarissimo Z x Clinton), answered all the questions in a time of 37.16.

Wexford rider Abigail Boland and Quentin K (Quaid I x Escudo II) completed the top six when they clocked 38.11.

Kilkenny young rider Timmy Brennan also delivered a clear with Tim Brennan’s seven-year-old Diadema Della Caccia in a time of 40.94 for seventh place. The last of the double clears was lodged by Waterford young rider Orla Queally and Gentleman Time in 42.80 for eight place.

Jazmine Arthur (JU/YR) and All That Jazz won the 1.25m at Warrington \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

All That Jazz

Winner of the earlier 1.25m was Jazmine Arthur with Karen Kerr’s six-year-old All That Jazz (Jack of Diamonds x Master Imp). The pair put in a very fast round of 23.37.

Just fractions slower in second place was Andrew Hodgins riding his own 12-year-old mare Sandra (Lux Z x Sandro Boy), clear in 23.38 seconds. Not content with second place, Hodgins also took third with Bobello when clear in 24.92.

Resident Warrington rider Eddie Moloney and GOGO, owned by Mark Williams, wasted no time as they stopped the clock with nothing to add in 24.94 for eventual fourth, ahead of Brid Ryan and Drombane Celtic, who also maintained a clean sheet in a time of 25.22. Robyn Moran took sixth place in this line-up up when she partnered Fortside Trend to a clear in 25.68.