VICTORY in the fourth leg of the 2024 Plusvital Premier Series Grand Prix in Maryville, Co Cork, last Sunday, belonged to Kildare rider Mikey Pender and his 2023 Aga Khan Nations Cup mount, HHS Calais.

Drawn late in the 14-horse jump-off, Pender used this to the best of his advantage and delivered the winning clear round in 43.59.

Speaking afterwards, Pender said: “I am delighted with the win and how the horse performed, he jumped brilliant. It was a competitive class, there were a lot of good horses. The course was challenging and the standard of competitors in the class was high. The jump-off was fast and to win it, you needed to go for it. The ground was very good and, as a result, you could push on.

“I think I really made up the time from fence one to two, doing eight strides. The horse has a big stride, so I could also make up time across the ground. The horse has demonstrated very good form, he was clear in Miami and won a five-star at the start of the year.”

Pender will compete at his home show at HHS this weekend before travelling to Riesenbeck for the Global Champions Tour and the Global Champions League, where he is part of the Doha Falcons team. Pender was full of praise for the Plusvital Premier Series, saying: “It is a great way for riders and horses to move up to the next level and they are held at top venues. We are very lucky to have some very good venues, everyone is trying very hard.”

Good form

Bred by the late Ita Brennan, the 13-year-old gelding HHS Calais is by Cavalier Royale out of the OBOS Quality 004-sired MHS OBOS Cruise. He is owned by Marion Hughes. The combination have only just returned from Europe, where they competed at Hamburg CSI5*, Wiesbaden CSI4*, Cannes CSI5* and Paris CSI5*. In May, the pair claimed a 1.55m four-star win in Wiesbaden.

Jump-off

In total, a strong startlist of 39 took on the Tom Holden-designed course, and from those, 14 proceeded to the jump-off in the €15,000 class. Of those 14, six delivered double clears. The jump-off course allowed riders to make up time in the turns, in particular back to the double (oxer- vertical), then left-handed to a tall vertical and on to the Plusvital oxer. For those with a win in mind, a daring gallop from fence 11a to the final oxer was required.

Early to go, Francis Derwin Jnr set the target, when he answered all the questions with Destina Du Mesnil Z, stopping the clock in a time of 45.11 for eventual third. Owned by Francis Derwin and bred by A Geesink, the 13-year-old mare is by Dobel van’t Zorgvliet. This pair finished runner-up in the Gain Alltech National Grand Prix in Kernans at the end of May.

Following on from a strong performance in the National Grand Prix the previous day, Orla Queally and Gentleman Time answered all the questions and came home in a time of 49.71, which would later prove good enough for sixth place.

Derwin’s lead held only temporarily, as Jason Foley reduced that target, when he delivered a double clear with Chedington Fixit in a time of 44.86 to take the lead and later the runner-up spot. Owned by Chedington Equestrian, the nine-year-old French-bred gelding is by Diamant De Semilly out of the Premium De Laubry mare, Pinochetta.

Another just home after victories in Europe, Foley took up the reins at the end of 2023 and the pair competed in Oliva and Royan. This year, their good results included a fourth place finish in the CSI3* Gold Grand Prix in Oliva and fifth in a 1.45m two-star in Royan. On home soil, they claimed victory in the TRM Showjumpers Spring Tour in Barnadown.

Harry Wood tried hard to catch the leader aboard the GBBS-owned Baloys PS, and their time of 45.39 would eventually prove good enough for fourth place. This was only Wood’s second show on the nine-year-old gelding by Baloubet De Rouet, who was previously campaigned by Rhys Williams and Kevin Gallagher.

Last of the clears, Nicholas Connors opted for the longer lines with Fornett D’ Emeraude and it paid off, as he delivered a clear in a time of 45.96 for fifth place. Owned by Ann Connors, the nine-year-old gelding is by Cornet Obolensky and this result sees the pair move up to joint-second on the leaderboard.

League leader

League leaders Niamh McEvoy and Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick picked up one point when finishing in ninth place and they hold on to that top place on 16 points. They are just two points ahead of Connors (14) and Patrick Hickey with Casago II (14), who also picked up a point for finishing in 10th place on Sunday.

The top two combinations after the next round at National Balmoral on July 21st will be invited to jump in the five-star international classes at the Dublin Horse Show.