CARLOW’S Jason Foley claimed victory in the €4,000 Pettitt’s Supervalu Co Wexford Gain Alltech National Grand Prix at Bannow and Rathangan Agricultural Show last Thursday. Riding Dantino B, he skilfully lodged the only double clear of the class in a time of 45.78. Foley had claimed the runner-up spot in the Plusvital Premier class in Maryville the week before.

Owned by Chedington Equestrian and bred by Andreas and Bianca Brandt, Dantino B is a 13-year-old gelding by D’Olympic out of the Quintender-sired dam, Quality Girl. This was the first outing for the combination, as the gelding is normally campaigned by British rider Ellie Guy.

As in previous years, a large crowd gathered to watch the 24 combinations battle it out and, from those, six booked their place against the clock.

Jack Brennan put in a very fast round with MHS High Hopes, clocking 42.34, but with one on the ground, he had to settle for the runner-up spot. Bred by Ita Brennan, the 13-year-old gelding is by Quidam Junior 1 out of the Cavalier Royale mare Gowran Lady. He is a full-brother to MHS Going Global and to MHS Grand Slam, who is campaigned by James Brennan. This combination is no stranger to this level of competition, taking second place in the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour in Warrington and, in November, claiming the runner-up spot in the 1.40m WKD Jump-off Challenge at Cavan Winter Festival.

Jim Donohoe did not hang around with Culdearg Clover Lad, but he too had one on the ground in a time of 45.99 for third place. Owned by Niamh Ó Donnabháin, this 15-year-old gelding is by Gelvin Clover and is out of the Touchdown-sired dam, Never Better. This combination finished fourth in the Mervue Equine Leinster 1.35m tour in CoilÓg in June.

Jason Higgins crossed the line with four faults with his own and Meabh Bolger’s seven-year-old MBF Be Blue in a time of 47.80 for eventual fourth. This mare is by Chaccon Blue and is out of the Highvalley-sired dam, Highness Z. The pairing recently finished third in the seven and eight-year-olds’ Dublin Horse Show qualifier in Mullingar.

Brendan Murphy slotted into fifth, when he finished on five faults with Erne Riverrun in a time of 54.15. Owned and bred by Hugh Fitzpatrick, the 11-year-old mare is by Antaeus and out of Erne Clover Z.

No stranger to the winner’s enclosure at the Wexford show, Gemma Phelan completed the top six, when she finished with two down aboard her own Beechfields Billy Barnwell in a time of 46.57. This 10-year-old gelding, which was bred by Donal Barnwell is by Billy Mexico and is out of the Vechta-sired dam, Billyrock.

Brendan Murphy and OSH Shirsheen won the Aloga Equestrian five/six-year-old Handicap Championship at Bannow and Rathangan Show \ Radka Preislerova

Five and six-year-olds

There was a large entry for the Aloga Equestrian five and six-year-old Handicap Championship, with 76 going to post for the prize pot of €3,500. Adding to his winnings was Brendan Murphy, when he partnered Linda Murphy’s five-year-old OSH Shirsheen to a double clear in 40.08.

Eoin Brennan and the five-year-old GCS Angelina were just over a second behind in 41.29 for second place. Not content with that, Brennan also took third place with Carol Gee’s five-year-old, SDF Five Star, when they answered all the questions in a time of 41.86.

A clear from Nicholas Connors and the six-year-old Jump The Gun saw them take fourth place. Fifth place belonged to Emma O’Dwyer aboard Stephen Moore’s Cornascriebe Emmie, when clear in 43.14. Jackilynn Breslin was only fractions of a second behind, with her own five-year-old CFH Capril Hill, crossing the line clear in 43.42 for sixth place.