OMAGH show played host to the fourth leg of the TRM/Horse Sport Ireland New Heights Championship with Alexander Butler taking home the win aboard James Egan’s Eldorado.

A total of 23 combinations lined out to tackle the 1.50m track which was set on perfect grass jumping conditions thanks to the overnight work of the team at Omagh show. The jump off was hotly contested with 11 riders managing to progress through to the second round against the clock.

The first rider to put in a double clear round was Dermott Lennon, partnering MJM Holdings Ltd’s nine-year-old mare MJM Pursuit. Racing through the finish in a time of 35.01 seconds, Lennon’s time proved hard to beat with only two other riders managing to shave seconds off the clock leaving him to finish third overall.

MJM Pursuit is a new ride for Lennon who took over the reins in April from Conor McEneaney. The partnership is proving to be successful with the pair taking a win earlier in the Season in a Table A class at Balmoral two-star.

Omagh had previously been a lucky venue for next to go, Tholm Keane, who took home the Grand Prix win there previously with his well-known partner Warrenstown U2. This time, however, partnering BMH Big Time, Keane could not quite catch Lennon’s time, coming home just short in 36.30 seconds, leaving him to finish in fifth place overall.

Next in, Butler with Eldorado left nothing to chance, galloped through the finishing beam and managed to take 2.5 seconds off Lennon’s time in 32.69. The time proved impossible to beat by the remaining competitors and Butler took home the winner’s ribbons.

Butler and Eldorado have been in flying form of late having spent the first couple of months of the year abroad. The wins marks his third Grand Prix victory in a row having taken home the honours in Lier, Belgium and in June at Mullingar International CSI2*.

The nine-year-old gelding (Zapatero x Kojak) was bought by James Egan as a six-year-old in Holland and has been a fantastic competitor over the past three years for Butler.

Speaking afterwards, Alexander Butler said: “He is a fantastic horse, very competitive and very careful which makes him a great horse to have in the stable. Going into the jump-off, I had my own plan which I tried I just tried to stick to, I know him well, what he can and can’t do and I was lucky enough no one managed to catch me. Next I will go to Tattersalls with the overall aim of hopefully making it into Dublin.”

It was Darragh Ryan who came closest to stealing Butler’s win. Racing home in a time of 33.62, Ryan slotted into second place with Rincoola Rua (Diamante de Semille x Cruising). Ryan has been campaigning the 11-year-old mare since April taking in both previous legs of the leagues in the Meadows and Ballinasloe.

YOUNG RIDER AWARD

The Young Rider award went to Jake Hunter who piloted Sandra Duffy’s Cento Blue into fourth place. Hunter took home a €100 TRI equestrian voucher, while Hazel James, groom to Alex Butler, received a €200 voucher as part of the new initiative to recognise the team effort involved in the performance.

With two wins to his name, Greg Broderick and his mount Duco continue to hold pole position on the leaderboard.

The next leg of the championship takes place in Tattersalls on July 22nd.