ALEX BUTLER and the 10-year-old Irish-bred mare HS Copperhead Cruise won the 1.40 metre Autumn Grand Prix in Cavan on Sunday.

“We’re delighted with the win. She’s naturally a very fast horse; she’s very slick in the turns. We did go very tight on the turn-back to the second last and if anywhere that’s where we could have made up some time; but really she’s always quick the whole way round.

“She’s only just come back to fitness now after a short break so we plan to do Killossery this week and then the Cavan International show. She’s produced very good results in recent years in the speed classes at this show and that’s what we will be aiming at again this year.

“Other horses that I intend to bring to Cavan include the six-year-old stallion Pico. He is owned by Tirneskea Stud and was bred by Norman Allen. He’s by Chekhov out of Da Soffer by Carrolls Flight. I’ve had him since the back end of his four-year-old year. I think he is the best horse I have ever sat on and I’m so excited to watch him progress.

“Another one I’m excited about is the nine-year-old CH Upperfield, I think he will go all the way and be a competitive 1.50 metre Grand Prix horse,” said Butler following the win.

A large field of 63 lined out for the eighth round of the 14-round league and 21 of these progressed to the timed decider.

Of the 21, eight were clear, nine had a single fence down, one had two down, two collected 12 faults and just one left with 16.

Jonathan Smyth and Ping Ball (Beach Ball – Western Promise) were pathfinders. They faulted at the second fence to finish on a score of four faults in a time of 42.07.

COMPETITIVE

Conor McEnerney and Zoe Harvey’s eight-year-old mare Mullaghbrack Royal Pride (Aldato – Limmerick) were second in. They faulted at the first fence to finish on four in 40.58.

Tonagh Trip the Lights and Eddie Moloney produced the first double clear when they left all the fences up in a time of 44.12 which would leave them in eventual seventh place.

Barry McCormick and Armani Velvet then had a round that they would prefer to forget having the first two and the final fence down for a score of 12.

Alex Butler and a relatively new addition to his string Wrenwood Stables nine-year-old Swiss-bred mare Upperfield CH (Arioso du Theillet – Argentinus) produced the second clear round in a slow time of 47.82 for eighth place.

Winner the previous day John Floody was next to go riding Ballyknock Diamond. They too left all the fences up in a time of 40.50 which would give them eventual fifth place.

Completing a run of three clears in a row were Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lui (Luidam – Baron de Chantepie) who were fault-free and fast in 39.11 to slot into third place in the final line-up.

The next four combinations all collected four faults apiece. Jake Hunter and Arkino Z (Arko III – Caretino) faulted at the first fence, while Kenneth Graham and George had the second fence down.

Luke Garrigan and MHS La Scalab had the first part of the double down while Eddie Moloney and Jessy Van De Heide (Nonstop – Habsburg) faulted at the first fence.

Faults incurred at fences two, four, five and six saw Gerard Clarke and Kellswater Crimson well out of the running on 16, while Dermott Lennon and Calgot Hero faulted at the second last fence to finish on four.

Emily Turkington and Willem then shot into the lead with a clear round in a time of 38.43. This was only bettered by Butler two horses later so, for the second time in as many days, Turkington finished in the runner-up spot.

Next in, Rebecca McGoldrick and Ronan McLaughlin’s Duco (Vincenzo – Goodtimes) also left all the fences up in a time of 39.49 which slotted into fourth place.

Alex Butler was 16th to go with HS Copperhead Cruise. Determined from the off, the pair took every turn as tight as possible and with a forward onward pace managed to stop the clock at 37.93 to secure the victory.

Wienenn III ridden by Gavin Harley was next in. Three fences down saw them out of the running.

CLEAR ROUND

The next pair in, Jake Hunter and Indian River Van Peschroeven (Ogano Sitte – Livarot) produced the eighth and final clear round of the class in 40.75 to occupy sixth place.

Daryl Walker and Kiss N Fly had two fences down, while Peter Smyth and Roscrib de Ross had the second part of the double down.

Last to go was John Floody and Bronson de Reve, they were unlucky to have the second last fence down in a time of 38.05, a time that if they had remained clear would have put them in the runner-up spot.

The next round of the 1.40 metre autumn league takes place in Portmore tomorrow (Sunday) with John Floody still leading the league on a score of 24 points.