WITH just two rounds ahead of the final at The Irish Breeders Classic, the Mervue Equine Leinster League went down to the wire at Mullingar last weekend.

In the 1.35m, 58 combinations went to post and, of those, 13 delivered double clears. Peter Smyth and Cruising Lux claimed the win when they delivered a double clear in 29.06 seconds.

Owned by Kathleen Gallagher, the 13-year-old mare is by Lux Z and out of the Cruising mare Cruising Line. This is the third win for this combination at this level of late, having also won the 1.30m at Maryville and Omagh last month.

Gerard Clarke was almost a second behind with Fabio M when stopping the clock in 30.54. Jonathan Andrew and The Hurricane, galloped home with nothing to add in 31.78, for third, ahead of Francis Connors, who was riding Ian Smyth’s Capitol Cruis (32.53). Kenneth Graham and Lenamore Lucy Lou also kept all the poles in place in a time of 32.87, for fifth.

Placed third in the SJI National Grand Prix the day before, Adrienne Dixon added to her score sheet when she took sixth with the GBBS INT LTD & Paddy Quinlan-owned eight-year-old mare Santa Catalina, stopping the clock in 33.04.

This league is still up for grabs with six combinations on the leaderboard on 10 points. Paddy O’Donnell and Minority Report now top the leaderboard on 20 points. O’Donnell took the two opening wins at Barnadown and Ballivor. Leading the young rider division is Thomas Foley, riding Kingsboro Verdiva.

RAFFERTY ON TOP

In the 1.20m division, Cormac Rafferty and Torebeag who won when clear in 35.15. Owned by Gerard McConville, the nine-year-old gelding is by Desir Du Chateau out of the Hermes De Re-sired dam Tulipsy. Galway rider Sorcha North slotted into the runner-up spot when she partnered Lord Archie to a clear in 40.02.

Little separated the next few placings as Madeline Roberts Allen was fractions behind with MP Star Lite, in 40.16. Marti Rudd and Monbeg Sunny Spells delivered a clear in 41.18 for eventual fourth, ahead of Cian Goggins, riding Clare Hughes’ Cuffesgrange Cavadora. Laurence Masterson and SRS Trending completed the top-six line-up when clear in 43.47.

Andrew Byrne and Hunters Lodge Puissance currently occupy poll position on this leaderboard.

VICTORY LAP

Sean Kavanagh and Carraigh Samraigh lead the victory lap in the 1.10m division when they were fastest of the double clears, clocking 30.24. Owned by Jimmy Cooke and Clare Hynes, the nine-year-old mare is by Cruise On and out of Carraigh Rian. Also competing in the young rider championships at Mullingar, Shaunagh Thomson took the runner-up place in this line-up when she partnered Garrison OBOS to a clear in 32.38. The result now moves her up to second place on the leaderboard.

Dublin rider Liam Derry put in a gallant attempt with BEC All Talk, but a clear in 38.80 saw him take third place. Raphael Jnr Lee’s clear aboard Rosemarie Hynes’s Gamble On Quality, in 39.73, proved good enough for fourth, ahead of Christopher Carroll and Royale Best, who clocked 42.11. Fiona Mullins and Mirdads Sheeefff opted for the safer approach and a clear in 43.47 saw them slot into sixth. Sara Gorman and Take A Gamble top this leaderboard.

Please note points were taken from the Leinster region of the SJI website. Points will be confirmed by the Leinster region prior to the final.