LAST week saw a double bill of the Gain/Alltech National Grand Prix action with the first round taking place in CoilÓg Equestrian Centre on Thursday.

It was a worthwhile journey from Crossmolina in Co Mayo to Kildare for Lee Carey as he led the victory lap riding the Sandra Duffy/Ireland Horse Sport & Leisure Ltd-owned Azzuro Massuere.

Carey left nothing to chance as he lodged the winning round in 35.73 and took home the lion’s share of the €4,000 on offer in the CoilÓg Catering 4 U-sponsored class. Azzuro Massuere is a 13-year-old French-bred gelding by Acodetto. Previosuly competed up to three-star level by Bulgarian rider Russian Petkov, Carey took over the ride on the gelding in May.

Delighted with the win, Carey told The Irish Field:” I was really pleased with the horse considering we are only together a short time. Our first big outing was Mullingar International and this was his first National Grand Prix.

“I was second last to go and I knew what I needed to do. I managed to do six strides to the last and I think that is what won it. The plan now is to go to National Balmoral and after that we will make a plan for the remainder of the season”

In total, 27 combinations took on the Tom Holden-designed course and from those, five double clears were delivered in what was a seven-way jump off.

Karlswood Stables-based German native Manuel Feldmann was only a split second behind aboard Mijnheer Van De Lentamel, crossing the line in 36.01 for second place. Owned by Canada’s Nicole Walker, the 11-year-old Belgian-bred is by Emerald out of the Toulon-sired Juffrouw Van De Lentamel.

It was a good day for the Duffy family as Jake Hunter partnered the Sandra Duffy/Ireland Horse Sport & Leisure Ltd-owned Chappo Chey to a clear in 36.69 seconds for third place. The 14-year-old German-bred by Carell was previously owned by Carl Hanley Sporthorses and jumped at five-star level by Michael G. Duffy. Under the guidance of Hunter last year, he won the 1.45m Grand Prix at Millstreet CSI2*.

Sven Hadley and the eight-year-old Phenomene Bleu VDM are proving to be a force to be reckoned with and they added to their leaderboard tally to now sit equal first when taking fourth after delivering a clear in 38.31. This combination has clocked up two wins in the series, in Castle Irvine and Kernans. Owned by Euro Horse Axel Verlooy, the eight-year-old stallion is by Diamant De Semilly.

Last of the double clears in a time of 38.56 was Karlswood Stables-based rider Tobias Kuhlage and Calox for fifth place. Owned by Coolmore Showjumping, the 10-year-old stallion was bred by Dietrich Tomforde by Cador 5 out of the Lordanos mare Lady Diana. This stallion was previously campaigned by Dutch rider Kevin Jochems up to four-star level.

Derek McConnell saw his hopes of a win fade when he had one down with Inlaws Manolo in a time of 39.81. Owned by Sorcha Hennessy and bred by Tomas Hester, the eight-year-old gelding by Corland is out of the Lord Z-sired Helena De Va Lie. This combination had previously finished fifth in the leg at Cavan Equestrian last month and was second in the TRM Showjumpers Spring Tour in Barnadown in April.