JACK RYAN guided the Marti Rudd and Tomas Doyle-owned and bred mare Monbeg Ruby to victory in the 1.40m National Grand Prix at Cavan Equestrian last Saturday.

By Diamant De Semilly out of Ballycapple Mist (Boherdeal Clover), she is nine years old and this is the duo’s first Grand Prix win.

Following the win, Ryan said: “I’m delighted to win this class. She is a fantastic mare, Tomas (Doyle) used to compete her mother himself.

“I started to ride her at the end of last year, we did a few shows together, we jumped here at the December indoor show and we have been building up slowly.

“I had some good rounds on her at the beginning of the year in Italy, so it was nice to come back here to Cavan and do well. Niamh (McEvoy) was in the lead and she is always fast. I was second last to go.

"We went in and just did our best, she was fantastic and, thankfully, it was good enough. The plan now is to hopefully try for the Premier in Maryville.”

Combinations

A total of 53 combinations lined out for the seventh round of the National Grand Prix league, which offered a €4,000 prize fund. Just 13 of the 53 produced a first round clear to progress to the timed decider.

Six of the 13 left all the poles in place in the jump-off and Ryan was the fastest of these, stopping the clock at the only sub-40 second time of 39.42 to secure the win.

Long-time leader Niamh McEvoy, riding the North Star Sport Horses-owned and bred eight-year-old gelding Miro NS (Comme Il Faut x Contendro I), took the runner-up spot, breaking the beams in 40.73.

Third place went to Junior rider Lauren Adams aboard Dale Adams’ Belgian-bred mare Quina Dw in 41.65.

Sean Foley and Dermott Lennon’s Dutch-bred gelding Fanta M finished in fourth in 41.96, while Olive Clarke and Yvonne Meaney’s home-bred mare Norway Grace (Aganix Du Seigneur x Lux Z) were fifth.

Harry Marshall completed the line-up, taking sixth place aboard his own Tango E.T. (Cornet Obolensky x Laughtons Flight) in 48.71.

The next and eighth round of the Premier Performance Grand Prix league takes place tomorrow (Sunday) in Charleville, Co Cork.