KATIE Nallon guided Tara Brandon and Gabriel Slattery Jnr’s Cw Luiboutain (Luidam x Captain Clover) to the top spot in Thursday’s Olympic Amusements-sponsored 1.35m Speed class at Cavan’s September Indoor Championships.

The duo were fortunate to be drawn towards the latter end of the 84-strong class, posting a time of 53.90 to capture the lead, and eventually the win.

Came closest

Sven Hadley came closest to catching Nallon aboard the seven-year-old Maximum Numero Too Hsh (Aganix Du Seigneur x Numero Uno), bred by Eamon McArdle; they were runners-up in 54.87.

Shane O’Reilly rode Lancer Luck into third in 57.01 - a good warm up for winning the Derby later in the week - while Emma McEntee took fourth aboard the Dutch-bred Hobalo in 58.01.

Fifth went to current National Champion Niamh McEvoy riding another Dutch-bred Northstar’s Miro Ns, and Sven Hadley finished sixth with his second mount Phenomene Bleu Vdm in 58.82.