JAMES Hogg is certainly proving to be a dominant force in the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour as he took both sections at Barnadown last Saturday. Once again there was another good turnout for the tour with almost 130 competing in the two rounds. As in the opening round, the class came down to the wire with little dividing the top six combinations.

Runner-up to Neal Fearon in the opening 1.35m round in Louth County Show, James Hogg made no mistake on this occasion as he led the victory lap with Interpreter. This is the second recent win for Hogg having won the National Grand Prix at Portmore with Always On My Mind.

Owned by Edgar Hogg, Interpreter is a 12-year-old gelding by Cruising, out of the Diamond Rock mare Dunahall Diamond, and was bred by Offaly man David O’Brennan. He was purchased as a foal by Edgar and produced by James up through the ranks. As a young horse, he impressed winning the five-year-old Studbook Series League and was part of the Irish team at Lanaken. He continued to show similar form as a seven and eight-year-old and moved up to Grand Prix level where the good results continued.

Second to go in the 74-strong class, Jenny Rankin and Beech Hill Lucia set the bar high when they lodged a clear in 39.74 which would later prove good enough for eventual eighth. The lead changed hands 10 combinations later when Philip McGuane also put in a foot-perfect performance with Dooleys Deluxe in 36.05 which would later see him slot into eventual fourth place. Eddie Moloney put in a good attempt with Ember Flight and delivered a clear in 36.56 which saw him finish just below McGuane. Moloney didn’t go home too disappointed as he also took seventh place with Tonagh Trip The Lights, clear in 36.91.

Fellow Kilkenny rider Ger O’Neill separated Moloney’s placings when he took sixth place with Galway Bay Astrojet, clear in 36.74. Excitement mounted as Francis Connors took the lead when he galloped home Uskerty Diamond Lady in a time of 34.40 seconds, but he soon bettered his own time when he clocked 34.30 with Capitol Cruis. All eyes were on last to go, James Hogg and Interpreter. Setting off in a determined pace, Hogg took a series of tight lines and a clear in 33.89 saw him take the win from Connors.

The leading young rider of this round was Cormac Foley riding Michael Ryan’s former international event horse Ballylynch Wizard. Under Foley’s command, Ballylynch Wizard has clocked up a series of good results at home and abroad. Last year they formed part of the Nations Cup team at Opglabbeek which finished fourth. This year they started their season on a good note, finished fourth in the Spring Tour at Mullingar. The top pro am was Deirdre Reilly and San Marco Z.

1.20m DIVISION

In the 1.20m division, there was another good turnout with 57 combinations contesting the round. James Hogg once again proved unbeatable when he delivered the winning round with European Cruise, clear in 32.36. Owned by Edgar Hogg, European Cruise is a seven-year-old gelding by Cruising and is the first foal out of Hortensia De Litrange. Produced by James Hogg, he has proved consistent in the aged classes. As a five-year-old, he won the five-year-old qualifier class in Dublin Horse Show and then went on to take the five-year-old Championship at Cavan’s November International Show. As a six-year-old, he continued to impress with a host of wins in the aged classes. The combination kicked-off the season with a win in the 1.20m at Louth County Show.

Tholm Keane was close on his heels as he lodged a clear with Vivian Lee in 32.66 for second. Placed fifth after the opening round, Sean Kavanagh and Finsceal Indiana improved when they slotted into third place when they clocked 33.09. Placed fourth in Louth County Show, Michael Cave also added to his tally when he partnered Mirdads Allamdu Lillah to a clear in 33.78 for eventual fourth. In fifth place was Feaha Moore and Carraigh Samraigh, clear in 35.29, ahead of Marie Vozone and Lowhill Glenard Lad in 35.42. Erynn Ballard and Belle du Courtil slotted into seventh place when clear in 36.19 ahead of Gwen Scott and My Plan in 36.55.