THE Cavan Indoor Derby has earned a reputation as a real crowd-pleaser and this year’s class at the Cavan Indoor September Championships was no exception. Sponsored by Karlswood Stables to the tune of €4,500, it attracted a 33-strong start list. Ten of the 33 left all the fences intact to progress to the jump-off.

In the end, it was the final pair in - Shane O’Reilly riding Brian McConville’s Lancer Luck that took the honours. By Castleforbes Lord Lancer out of Dalystown Lass (Coevers Diamond Boy), he was bred by Thomas Whelan and has been partnered by O’Reilly for the past three years.

With the advantage of being last to go, O’Reilly got a chance to study several of his opponents’ rounds before taking on the shortened track and crossing the finish line in a very fast time of 34.54 for the win.

Robyn Moran and Vera Griffin’s ever-reliable Cushlas Fryday (Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve x Apache D’Adriers) took the runner-up spot in 35.31.

Young rider Ben Walsh rode Ronan McLaughlin’s eight-year-old Belgian-bred gelding Zenith Vd Donkhoeve Z into third place in 36.01. Fourth went to David O’Loughlin’s SVS Ashford Zodiac (Elvis Ter Putte x Je T’Aime Flamenco) with Shane Goggins in the tack as the fastest four-faulters in 32.60.

Camryn Clarke and Jordan Coyle’s Dutch-bred Miracle Es (Innocent x Fipper D’Elle) were fifth, while Jack Ryan and Northlawn Farm’s Soblensky Vh Scheefkasteel Z slotted into sixth place.