BOLEYBAWN Alvaro was named the 2024 Six-year-old ‘Cruising’ National Champion in the RDS last Sunday.

Partnered by Niamh McEvoy, the stallion is co-owned by Greg Broderick and his breeder Ronan Rothwell.

By the Zangersheide stallion Dominator 2000 Z, out of Arina, by Crown Z, he was originally ridden by Jack McKeon in his four, and the start of his five-year-old year, before he handed over the reins to McEvoy in May 2023.

The duo finished in third place in the 2023 Flexible five-year-old championships, as well as winning the silver medal at the young horse world championships in Lanaken.

Speaking after the win, McEvoy said: “He’s an amazing horse. He barely hit a fence for the whole of his five-year-old year. He didn’t hit a pole the whole week in Lanaken.

“This year, he did a bit of breeding so we didn’t take him to Spain, so he got a bit of a break which was nice.

“He is so easy and straightforward, he is not spooky at all. We could just start back with him in March and then he did the first qualifier and qualified there. He is so consistent and has such a good attitude. He’s definitely one of my favourites.

“Nothing phases him. He was so good and calm in the main ring, I’d say you could take him into the arena in Aachen and he’d be fine. He’s brilliant at rising to the occasion. He knows when it’s a big day. We are very lucky he has such a good mentality.

“He is one of the most exciting young horses I’ve ever ridden. I definitely think he’s a horse that will go all the way. I’m excited for Lanaken with him this year. Hopefully, we can go one better.”

McEvoy added: “My other horse Daliradas Boy (Cornets Prinz x Diarado), bred by Newberry E Wilson, finished in fourth. Greg bought him last year just after the Breeders’ Classic from the Irwins.

“He came out to Spain with us and was just so consistent for the eight weeks out there. Greg (Broderick) thinks a lot of him. He is a special horse, so blood and so much scope, he’s very careful. Dublin was probably the biggest he’s ever seen, he didn’t do Lanaken last year, so we were delighted with how he coped. He’s really brave and was relaxed and easy to ride. Hopefully, he’ll be in Lanaken also, and he’ll do the Breeders’ Classic next week.”

Decider

Of the 16 combinations that qualified for Sunday’s final, just nine produced a clear first round to progress to the timed decider.

McEvoy was pathfinder riding Daliradas Boy. They set the pace with a second clear in a time of 36.81, which would be good enough for fourth place.

Nicholas Connors and Anne Connors’ home-bred Jump The Gun (I’m Special De Muze x Master Imp) were second to go. They too left all the fences intact, stopping the clock at 36.06, which would put them just ahead of McEvoy in third place.

Jack Ryan and Kilnamac Cody (Diamant De Semilly x Cruising), bred by James Ryan, were unlucky to have the third fence down for four faults in 42.67.

Max Foley and the Hughes’ home-bred HHS Arezzo (Luidam x Cavalier Royal) also faulted at the third fence in 41.62 for eighth place.

Cavan’s Camryn Clarke and Jordan Coyle’s Royal du Rouet (Big Dan Du Rouet x UNK), bred by Helen Sheridan, posted a fault-free round in 41.24 for sixth place.

Tim Brennan’s home-bred Augustus Z (Aganix du Seigneur Z x Vigo D’arsouilles), ridden by Eoin Brennan, produced a foot-perfect round in 38.90 for fifth.

Winners of the Cavan Crystal Hotel Grand Final in 2023, Vincent Byrne aboard Annmarie Dunne’s mare CSF Thomascourt Zena (Zirocco Blue VDL x Prince Des Vaux), bred by Patrick Connolly, had a good time in 36.41, but were unlucky to have the second part of the double down for seventh place.

Jason Foley was the penultimate rider in with KM Sport Horses’ Ballinaguilkey Special (Big Star x Ramiro B), bred by John and Barbara Walsh. They had a great round, breaking the finish beams in 35.60 for eventual second place.

McEvoy was last to go aboard her second mount, Boleybawn Alvaro. A foot-perfect round in a very fast 34.03 saw them head proceedings and secure the win, the six-year-old title and the coveted Michael Moran Memorial Trophy.