SATURDAY afternoon saw 82 combinations lined out for the €3,000 1.35m Grand Prix and leading this victory lap was junior rider Cian McMunn, who won with Lisboy Emerald and was third with Bellevue Celestial.

Lisboy Emerald is owned by Breda McMunn and was bred by Michael McDonagh. He is a 12-year-old gelding by Emerald Van’t Ruytershof out of the Lux Z-sired dam, Hollypark Lux Alright. This combination won the 1.30m National Young Rider Championship the week before in Barnadown. Bellevue Celestial, also owned by Breda McMunn, was bred by Ruth Loney. She is an 11-year-old mare by Luidam and out of Bellevue Bird of Paradise. This pairing won the National Grand Prix in July at Glenamaddy.

Going late in the draw, McMunn made up the time in the turn back from fence nine to 10 and then by taking the inside line to the EIS oxer at 12, before taking out a stride to the last and stopping the clock in 26.26 seconds.

From the original field, 26 combinations delivered double clears in what was an extremely close class.

Alex Finney tried hard to catch the leader with MHS Style, but was longer back to fence 12 and crossed the line in 28.04 for second place.

McMunn got his first look at the course with Bellevue Celestial and, although he kept it tight, a clear in 28.38, put him in provisional first and eventual third.

Young rider Paddy Reape and Mr Rockey Blue looked set to take McMunn off the lead, but despite a quick pace, a clear in 28.45 saw him take provisional second and later, fourth place. Bred by George McCullough, the 10-year-old is by Chacoon Blue and out of Ardeche Z.

Andrew Hodgins, who was aboard the John Glynn-owned Shanaclough Luichew, also looked up for the challenge, but a clear in 29.20 would see them take fifth. This 10-year-old gelding is by Luidam and is out of Cailin Leathsli.

Junior rider Lily Tunney had her eye on the ball, as she took it on with Gortacar Suspicious Minds 005. Tunney opted to take the tighter line back to fence 11 and it paid off, as she delivered a clear in 29.21 for sixth place. Owned by Gortacar Stables, the 11-year-old gelding was bred by Ralph Morgan and is by OBOS Quality 004 and out of the Cruising-sired dam, Walterstown Girl.