THE six-year-old final at Barnadown saw 30 combinations battle it out and, from those, just six double clears were delivered. Claiming the victory was Kilkenny rider Ger O’Neill aboard John Lawler’s JM Perhaps Love, when they stopped the clock in 37.14 seconds. The home-bred mare is by Carrera VDL and is out of the Toulon-sired dam, Toulon’s Quality. This season, the mare was also campaigned by Jack Kent and Jason Foley, and clocked up a series of impressive results up to 1.30m level.

O’Neill was chased home by fellow Kilkenny rider Jack Ryan aboard Isla Flight. Owned by Jack’s mother Marguerite and bred by Michael Callery, the mare is by Ganesh Hero Z out of the Luidam-sired dam, Greenacres Luidam. The mare was also campaigned by Jack’s sister Ciara with much success over the summer, including a host of placings in the 1.20m Mervue League.

Ger O’Neill returned to take third with Martin Egan’s Castlefield Tycoon, stopping the clock in 38.25 seconds. Bred by Sean Stafford, the gelding is by Tyson and out of the Lupicor-sired dam Witty Luterra C. Under the command of Jason Foley, this gelding has proved to be a future talent and amongst his wins was the Dublin Horse Show qualifier at The Meadows. They also clocked up a series of results in the DAFM Studbook classes. Jason Foley and Castlefield Tycoon will form part of the Irish team at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Jumping Championships.

Performance

Another team member for the upcoming Championships at Lanaken, Ethan Ahearne and Ogue BT Grandato put in a solid performance ahead of their travels as they accounted for eventual fourth, when they came home in 38.25. Bred by Anne Murphy, the gelding is by Grandorado TN and out of the Aldato-sired dam, Ofue Ali Furist. This was another combination who qualified for Dublin after a string of good results throughout the summer. He has been jointly produced by Ahearne and his partner Camilla Speirs, who qualified the horse for Dublin as a five-year-old.

Fifth place was filled by another Kilkenny man, as Tholm Keane partnered the High Sierra Farm-owned Kereen Miss Krafty to a clear in 45.36. Bred by Stephen Keane, this home-bred is by Lucky Luck and is out of the Diamond Serpent-sired mare Krafty Kate. This combination qualified for Dublin this year in the round at Mullingar.

Taking sixth place was Niamh O’Connor Barry with her own Grennanstown Queen Of Hearts when they came home in a time of 48.44 seconds. This Dodarde Ez-sired mare is out of the Olympic Lux-sired dam Olympic Filoma. She has been produced by her owner as a four-year-old with good results in the age classes.