COILOG proved to be happy hunting ground for Jack Ryan (15) as he kicked off his wins at Coilog when leading the 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour.

As in previous rounds, the 1.35m division of the tour, which had a prize fund of €1,500, went down to the wire.

First to go, Tholm Keane and and Highly Efficient set the target when clear in 31.76 seconds. Keane’s lead was short-lived as next in, Eddie Moloney and Cruicerath Flexianna, lowered the target to clear in 27.72.

Speed Merchant against the clock, Liam O’Meara answered all the questions with Mr Coolcaum, but his time of 40.70 would later prove only good enought for sixth. Jack Ryan knew what was required to take the lead from his mentor Eddie Moloney.

Wasting no time with Cavalier Teaca, a series of good turns saw him lodge the winning clear in 26.36 seconds and in the process demote Moloney into second. Ryan also took the prize of leading young rider of the round.

THIRD PLACE

Joseph O’Brien tried hard to lower the target with Legaland Lux Breaker, but a clear in 30.09 saw him finish in third place, ahead of Keane and Highly Efficient. In fifth was Harriet Cooper and Annaghmore Small Hero, clear in 36.38 seconds.

James Hogg still remains top of the leaderboard having taken the second place at the opening round at Louth and the win in Barnadown.

In the 1.20m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour, victory belonged to fellow Kilkenny rider Ger O’Neill aboard Peig Van Amerongen’s 10-year-old Cassus-sired mare Clim Bim.

It was another good weekend for the tour with 67 combinations battling it out in the competitive two-phase. Gerard Clarke set the target when he lodged a clear with Jockeyhall Midas Touch in 29.97 to take the lead and then eventual fifth place.

Eleventh to go from the 67 starters, John Floody put in a fast clear round with Craigmanus Hold Up Diamond in 30.13, which saw him provisionally slot into second and then eventual sixth.

The lead changed hands when Ger O’Neill and Billy Anchor crossed the line in 28.07 to lead and then take third place in the line-up.

O’Neill’s lead held only temporarily as, Stephen Murphy and Exelsoir Van De Noordheuvel went clear in 27.62. Going late in the draw with Clim Bim, O’Neill left nothing to spare when he crossed the line in 27.39 seconds to put Murphy into second.

Clarke and Anni San followed O’Neill and Clim Bim in the draw, but despite a series of tight lines, they failed to change the standings and a clear in 28.44 saw them take fourth place.