ON Thursday, a total of 88 combinations contested the Ulster Grand Prix with 37 delivering double clears. The win went to Leinster as Max Foley and Illusion De Hus delivered the fastest time of 26.16 seconds.

Owned by Hugh McCowan, the eight-year-old French-bred mare is by Baloubet du Rouet and is out of the Ugobak Des Baleines-sired dam Duras De Hus. Amongst this pairing’s good results of late was third place in the Dublin Horse show seven/eight-year-old qualifiers in The Meadows.

His closest rival was fellow Leinster rider Alanna Fagan and Billy Hastings in a time of 27.73. Junior rider Mischa Lennon and Anthem In My Heart took third with a clear in 27.78. Accounting for fourth place was Seamus Hughes Kennedy and the eight-year-old Cava in 28.15. Lucy Morton and Balou’s Penny finished fifth in 28.32. Rounding off the top six was Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lights Out, in 28.64.

Victory in the Lee Johnston Farrier-sponsored 1.30m went to young rider Lucy Morton who partnered the Maureen Moore- owned Cassclo Bleach to a clear in 59.10. She was chased home by fellow young rider Chloe Hughes Kennedy, who stopped the clock with nothing to add in 59.27 aboard Glenfield Harrington. Young rider Aine Shortall and Killerisk Can Ya took third when clear in 60.80, while in fourth was Paul Caves and CAFRE Quality Clover, clear in 62.53. A clear from Darragh Ryan and Milllie MF in 62.98 saw them take fifth, while in sixth was Alex Finney and MHS Style, clear in 63.43.

Winner of the Carman Architects 1.20m Table A speed class was Rory Lavery aboard his seven-year-old Forever My Girl, with a clear in 55.40. Lavery’s closest rival was Ben Maybin and Caugherty Ronan, who was clear in 56.34. Leinster’s Children on Horses rider Zahara Kirby Casola accounted for third, when clear in 58.64, ahead of Barry McCormack and Ludo’s Promise, clear in 59.09. Junior rider, Chloe Fenton maintained a clean sheet with Heldin, in 61.17 for fifth, while in sixth was Danni Jennings and Super Star, clear in 62.51.