ITALY’s Lorenzo de Luca charmed the Dublin crowd once again last week when galloping to victory in the prestigious eight-year-old championship on Sunday afternoon, before going on to finish third in the Grand Prix.

De Luca was aboard the Stephex Stables-owned mare Bellisma Ter Wilgen Z (by Bamako De Muze). Speaking to The Irish Field after the class, he said: “This is just a new ride for me. This is my third show with her. She has amazing quality and scope but I think this is the first time that she has jumped in a ring as big and as impressive as Dublin so I was delighted with how she went.

“The first day that she jumped on the grass she was good but the second day she was even better because she was a little more relaxed. I’m really looking forward to the future with her because I think she will be one to watch. She has always been at Stephex Stables since she was a youngster but was ridden by other riders. I took over the ride a month and a half ago.

“I was fortunate that I was last to go and there was only three riders in the jump-off so I got to watch the other rounds and knew exactly what I needed to do to win.

“She has a very big stride so I was able to use that and we had a nice smooth round. She will have a little break now and then she will do a few two and three-star shows and we will slowly step her up to the bigger classes.

“She is so sweet, she has a super mind and she doesn’t spook at anything. She is very scopey and I think she is definitely one for the future, she has everything,” he added.

An even dozen lined out for the final National Championship class of the morning on Sunday and just three managed a clear round to make it into the decider.

First to go against the clock was James Hogg riding his own Beach Ball-sired Irish Sport Horse gelding Intuitive, who was bred by his late father Edgar. They posted a nice free-flowing round and left all the fences intact in a time of 33.43, which would be good enough for the runner-up spot in the final line-up.

Next to go was Britain’s Ben Maher, riding American owner Jane Forbes Clarke’s mare Ginger Blue (Plot Blue x Royal Bravour). They too left all the fences up and stopped the clock at 33.78 for third place.

Last to go was De Luca and Bellisima Ter Wilgen Z. A lovely ongoing confident clear round in 32.62 saw them capture the win and €3,500.