DHF ALLIANCE, ridden for the Army Equitation School by Commandant Geoff Curran, won Sunday morning’s Nortev Speed Championships.

Bred by Paul Douglas, the 10-year-old mare is owned by Jessica Stallard and the Minister for Defence, and is by Ard Vdl Douglas, out of Rosie Bee by Lux Z.

A delighted Curran told The Irish Field: “It was mighty. Any win is a good one but to win in Dublin is pretty special, it fairly defines the year for you. The mare jumped very well every day, we were fifth the first day and then the middle two days she just wasn’t as focused as she can be; and when she’s not focused she can have a pole down.

“On Sunday, I rode her a little bit more in the morning and when I was in the warm-up, I felt that she was really on form.

“That gave me confidence going in to have a really good go at it. Gerry Flynn - who is training us - and I walked the course and we made a very competitive plan and that was executed by me, thankfully, and we had the winning round. Being very quick from the double of ditches to the next oxer, doing a stride less than most people was the winning of it.”

Comdt Curran added: “I was delighted with her. She deserved to have a win. She is a very competitive mare; she normally gets a win at every international show we go to. I’m very lucky to have her. She’s only 10 years old and I feel that this year she has a bit more maturity. She generally tries her best, which fills you with confidence.

“The courses all week were, as always with Alan Wade, top class. The speed championship course really suited my mare.

"There was no time where you had to decide whether to do an inside turn or not because she doesn’t enjoy that. There was just loads of space, use the stride and just be as tight as you can on those turns. There was no instance where you had to pull around the corner or get physical with them and that made for a good class.

“We will go to the Breeders’ Classic next and maybe do the National Grand Prix but nothing major. I am hoping that we can get into a few shows away after that, we will have to wait and see.”

Twenty-five combinations started over the 1.50m track. Ireland’s superb young guns from Friday’s Aga Khan, Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Tom Wachman, both went early on. Hughes Kennedy and the eight-year-old Dure de Semilly were second to go and posted a cautious clear round in a time of 76.12.

Wachman and Coolmore Showjumping’s Hawaii were also fault-free, stopping the clock at 62.37 for eventual fifth place. Ireland’s winner on day one and two of the show, Jordan Coyle, was once again in the mix here taking fourth place aboard For Gold.

Holland’s Kevin Jochems and Prada di Costa M took the runner-up spot in 51.04, while Rodrigo Pessoa riding Dhalida was third. Curran was fortunate to be drawn third from the end, so he had the opportunity to watch several horses go. A precise clear in a time of 60.57 saw them secure the victory for the home side.