Emer Bermingham

VICTORY in the penultimate round of the Gain/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix series at Wexford Equestrian last Sunday serve to catapult John Floody and Mise Le Meas into pole position on the leaderboard ahead of the final at Cavan next weekend.

Floody now has 34 points just four points ahead of Cian O’Connor and six points ahead of Cormac Hanley. However, with points and a half on offer in the final, it’s still all to play for.

Owned by Mathew Birch, Mise Le Meas is an eight-year-old by Cruise On and of Cissie Lady. Under Floody’s command, the gelding has proved very consistent in the series, recording two wins in this league, along with other notable placings.

A delighted Floody said: “The horse just jumped fantastic and I am delighted for his owners Mathew Birch and his breeder, Michael Smith. He is a very consistent horse but has been unlucky over the last few rounds. He was unlucky not to win at Eglinton with the last fence down in the jump-off. Once Cian O’Connor is at home, it’s hard to compete against him. He won three of the rounds in a row. Cian is now on international duty, but Cormac (Hanly) who is a very talented young rider, can still catch me.”

Regarding the track, he added: “As always Alan Wade designed a great course and the facilities at Wexford Equestrian are second to none, with a great course of fences.”

Wade’s challenge saw 11 of the 26 starters book their place in the jump-off.

Triple-handed against the clock, Francis Connors was first to take it on with Erne Ladygoldilocks. A cautious approach paid off as he lodged a clear in 40.93 which later proved good enough for sixth place in the line-up.

Taking a break from her eventing schedule, Sarah Ennis was next riding BLM Diamond Deluxe, Ennis didn’t hang about as she lowered the target to 38.79 seconds, which later meant a fifth place finish.

Young riders also featured strongly in the jump-off with Jenny Rankin and Anna Carway taking their place in the line-up. Anna Carway set off in determined pace with Ajaccio and a clear in 37.83 saw her account for fourth place. Jenny Rankin also lodged a clear with Colorland’s Cheyenne, in a slightly faster time of 37.77, which saw her temporarily take the lead and then eventual third.

Both these young riders have demonstrated particular good form in the young rider arena this year, with Rankin claiming a series of wins in the young rider and young horse classes in Dublin Horse Show for Bourns Sport Horses, while Carway also had a series of good results which included leading young rider in the HSI/Connolly’s Redmills Spring Tour at the start of the year and later in the year she formed part of the team that claim the silver medal in the Junior European Championships.

All eyes were on Francis Connors as he returned with Capitol Cruise. Connors opted to take a series of tight turns and it paid off as he lowered the target to 37.34 seconds.

Last to go, John Floody knew what he needed to do to claim victory. Setting off strong, Floody may up time over the first three fences. A well executed turn back to the vertical at nine to the double saw him make up on target, crossing the line 36.08 to snatch victory from Connors and claim the lion’s share of the €3,000 in the Dublin Providers, Willie Mullins Racing and Talbot Hotel-sponsored class.

HSI MARES CHAMPIONSHIP

Earlier in the day, all eyes were on the inaugural HSI Mare Championship for five and six-year-olds, which boasted a total prize fund of €15,000. Following some tough competition, it was Kilkenny’s Eddie Moloney and Cruicerath Flexianna that took the honours. Breeder Gerard Campbell was also present to collect his cheque of €600, part of the overall prize fund.

Owned by USA young jumpers’ Cruicerath Flexianna is by Flexible (ISH) and out of Pannamarenca (KWPN) Purchased from Gerard Campbell and Jack Doyle, she has been campaign by Moloney for the past year with much success. The duo were best placed of the Irish in the five-year-old category at the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Lanaken, finishing just outside the top 20. An unlucky four faults at the last fence in the final denied them their place in the jump-off. Prior to travelling to Lanken, they finished second in the RDS qualifier at Barnadown and then went on to finish second in the five-year-old Flexible Championship in Dublin.

Moloney said: “It was a good way to finish the season for the mare as she will now go on a break for the winter. We were very unlucky at Lanaken so I am delighted for the owners today as it was a well deserved win. This is a mare with a lot of potential I am looking forward to competing her again next year. Again we will be looking to travel to Lanaken.”

Of the 20-strong start-list, a total of 11 mares proceeded to the jump-off. First to go, Padraic Nestor riding Kashino, proved out of luck when crossing the line with eight faults. Third to go with Cruicerath Flexianna, Eddie Moloney knew the task ahead. A very tight turn from fence two to three, matched with a daring gallop to the final oxer saw him recorded the winning time of 38.02 seconds.

Olive Clarke wasted no time with James Hoare’s Dowdstown Indi. She negotiated a tight turn back to the vertical at three and then to four. A good pace saw the Galway rider cross the line in 39.49 which failed to demote Moloney, but slotted her into second at this point.

Next in, Ita McDermott partnered Angela Devaney’s Cobra Khan to a clear in 39.44, which saw her take the runner-up spot, leaving Clarke to take third. Placed second in the qualifier, Jenny Rankin was looking to go one better in the final with Deirdre Bourns’ MHS Attraction.

Keeping the use of the arena to a minimum, Rankin kept it tight but a clear in for 39.66 proved only good enough for eventual fourth. The penultimate rider, Philip Gaw, opted for the more careful approach with Ardnacashel Coovella and a clear in 41.50 ensured him fifth place. Bourns Sports Horses picked up another rosette as Kevin Gallagher slotted into sixth place with Deirdre Bourns’ Mighty Mavis, when clear in 41.92. This was the second good placing for this combination having claimed fourth in the qualifier.