IT was certainly a week to remember for Darragh Ryan, as he rode to victory in the National Grand Prix, the Connolly’s Redmills Munster Grand Prix and the Plusvital Premier Series Grand Prix aboard his own Lady Blue Du Pont Letot at Maryville.
Speaking afterwards, a delighted Ryan said: “The mare jumped great all weekend, with three wins. We couldn’t have asked for any more. I have produced her from a young horse, so it’s a great feeling to have a weekend like this. I got her as a five-year-old from a friend of mine, Darragh McCarthy. He spotted her at a show and sent me a video and myself and a local man, Liam Kearney, bought her. It has been a long road, but it’s days like this that make it worth it.”
Regarding the course, he added: “The plan was to keep it smooth and tight as possible and trust that she would be quick enough. I took a stride out to the last, which helped. I put the pressure on as first to go. Everything just worked in my favour. The mare is an absolute super star.
“I would like to thank the sponsors and Maryville for putting on a great show. It was wonderful to jump in the full arena.”
On Sunday, the feature event, the €15,000 Plusvital Premier Series, saw 46 combinations battle it out. Of those, five booked their place against the clock and seven were denied their place in the second round, due to a single time fault.
Risky
First to go with Lady Blue Du Pont Letot, Darragh Ryan set off strongly and made up pace from the first oxer to the vertical, before taking a very risky right turn to the proceeding big oxer. He then went tight to the wide oxer and, encouraged home by the spectators, he took an extremely tight line to the vertical at nine, before heading to the last line (vertical to the Plusvital oxer at 13), coming home with nothing to add in a time of 46.80 seconds.
Winner of the Premier Series in Cavan, Clem McMahon was next to take it on with the big-striding Carneyhaugh Unison. Despite a good pace, McMahon failed to match the tight lines and a clear in 47.80 saw them take the runner-up place. Bred by Patrick Breen, this nine-year-old mare is by Cornet Obolensky and is out of the Don Juan De La Bouverie-sired dam, Carneyhaugh Allegro. Earlier in the year, this combination had been in the placings in Vejer de la Frontera CSI3* and Oliva CSI3*.
Jack Ryan and Calgrafi DWB looked set to challenge the leader, but four faults at the vertical at nine, and crossing the line in 46.78 would later prove good enough for third. Owned by Northlawn Farm, the nine-year-old mare is by Bogegardens Grafs Stakkato and is out of Caleo. This combination is already on the leaderboard, having claimed the runner-up position in the round at Barnadown.
Young rider Kian Dore also posted a very fast time with Monterey Bay of 47.26, but four faults at the first part of the double after negotiating a tight turn back from the vertical, proved only good enough for eventual fourth. Monterey Bay is owned by Jillian Lennon and is a 10-year-old gelding, bred by Felicitas Erfurt and is by Monte Bellini and out of the Calypso 27-sired dam, Carisma 27. Although this combination is newly formed, they have gelled well, taking the win in the 1.35/1.40m Dublin Horse Show qualifier in the second round at Barnadown and the win in the Grand Prix at Cavan.
Lt Raphael Lee and Killossery Kilshane looked set for the challenge, but he suffered the same fate as Dore, faulting at the double, albeit in a slower time of 54 seconds for fifth. Bred by Frank and Laura Glynn, the 10-year-old gelding is by Peppermill and out of the Cruising-sired dam, Killossery Kruisette.
Francis Connors and Carrigshawn Vendi Royal were fastest of those with a single time fault in the first round in 75.11 for sixth.
National Grand Prix
On Saturday, 36 combinations went to post in the €4,000 National Grand Prix, with 17 booking their place in the second round and 11 choosing to contest it. Third last to go in the jump-off, Ryan knew what he needed to do and got a good turn from fence three to the double and then to the oxer, before galloping to the last, clocking 32.45 to take the win.
Bred by Madame Celine Rousselet, Lady Blue Du Pont Letot is a nine-year-old Belgian-bred mare by Chacoon Blue and out of the Qoby De Saint Aubert-sired dam, Faience Du Pont Letot. The pairing has been in the winnings of late, claiming victory in the 1.35m Harriet Penfold Memorial Grand Prix in April.
First to go against the clock, Francis Connors and Carrigshawn Vendi Royal set the time to beat, when they kept all the poles in place in 33.89, which would later see him take the runner-up spot. This is on the back of a series of good results for this team, having won the Charleville Grand Prix at the end of June, the runner-up spot in Wexford Grand Prix and sixth in the Plusvital Grand Prix at Cavan. Carrigshawn Vendi Royal is owned by Francis, Jenny and Kate Connors, the 11-year-old mare was bred by John Warner and is by Dondoctro Ryal K and is out of Carrigshawn Vendi.
Max O’Reilly Hyland put in a good attempt with his own eight-year-old, Zuper, but a clear in 34.53 proved only good enough for third. This gelding is by Zento and is out of Gemini and is a new mount for Max, having been previously campaigned by the Netherland’s Roosje Brouwer.
Joint winner of the Grand Prix in Ballivor, Liam O’Meara didn’t waste any time with Cevann, but despite a gallant attempt, a clear in 34.92 saw them take fifth. The 12-year-old gelding is by Cevin Z and is out of the Kannan-sired dam, Bellini.
Harry Wood accounted for the next two placings in the line-up. Riding his second mount of the jump-off, Ballypatrick’s eight-year-old No Doubt Juna, he lodged a clear in 35.34 for fifth. The KWPN gelding is by Andiamo Semilly and out of the Vittorio-sired dam, Jariska.
Wood then clocked 35.96 with the Ronnoco Jump-owned eight-year-old, Sammy Van T’Holeinde for sixth. The Belgian Warmblood gelding is by Vigo D’Arsouilles and is out of Quite Easy. This is a new mount for Wood, with the gelding being campaigned by Adam Carey in June at Mullingar and Jennifer Kuehnle prior to this in Vejer de La Frontera up to CSI4* level.