KILKENNY’s Jack Ryan recorded another Grand Prix win to add to his season tally, this time claiming the 1.40m Premier Performance National Grand Prix at the National Balmoral Championships last Friday aboard Vilja’s Cornet Ballet Queen.

Ryan proved fastest of just five double clears in the 15-way jump-off in a time of 43.88 seconds. The combination had previously won the Grand Prix at the Hughes Horse Stud Annual Show. Owned by Emma Horgan and Mikey Pender, the 10-year-old by Cornet Obolensky was bred by Fabian Scholz out of a Balou Du Rouet dam. The mare has been campaigned on the European circuit by Ryan up to CSI3* level. She was previously campaigned by Pender and Alan O’Regan.

Speaking after the win, Ryan said: “I won this class last year and it was fantastic to come back and win it again. The mare has been in very good form and I think she really likes the grass. I think the arenas here are fantastic as are the facilities. The younger and older horses jump well here. It’s a very well-run show, a no brainer. Thank you to the organisers and the sponsors for running a great show.”

Sponsored by Beverage Brands and Roxborough Ground Maintenance, the £10,000 class understandably attracted a large following with 88 going to post.

Returning from international duty, recent young rider team silver medallist Tom Wachman and the Coolmore Showjumping-owned I’m Here took second when they were fractions behind in 44.29. This pair were in action at Aachen CHIO5* where they claimed third in a 1.45m class.

It was a good day for Kilkenny riders as Molly Hughes Bravo took third place with the Bravo Hughes Ltd-owned HHS Orchidee when they stopped the clock in a time of 45.62. This home-bred nine-year-old mare is by Le Roi out of the Luidam mare HHS Tiffany. This combination has also been competing on the European circuit, taking in Vejer de la Frontera at the start of the season before moving to Lier and returning home to Mullingar CSI2* where they finished fourth in the 1.45m Premier Grand Prix.

Sam El Dahan and Oscar-A also kept everything standing but in a slower time of 46.65 for eventual fourth. Owned by Joanne Sloan Allen, the 11-year-old Belgian bred gelding by Cardento put in an impressive performance earlier in the month in Spruce Meadows, Calgary, which included fifth in the 1.60m ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, fifth in a 1.55m and fourth in the 1.50m class. In June they claimed third in the RBC Grand Prix of Canada.

Lt Raphael Lee and Kilfenora were last of the double clears in 46.84 for fifth place. This 12-year-old gelding by KEC Maximum Joe was bred by Anna Kennedy out of the Aldatus Z-sired dam Kec Leapalli.

Rounding off the top six was Harry Marshall and Tango E.T when he finished on a single time fault in a time of 56.22. Owned by Marshall, the ten-year-old mare is by Cornet Obolensky out of the Laughton’s Flight mare Juicy. This duo claimed the 1.40m Grand Prix at Omagh Show at the start of the month and was sixth in a National Grand Prix in June.