JAMES HOGG had a day to remember last Sunday in Cavan with a trio of championship wins. Hogg won the 1.35 metre Cavan Grand Prix riding Always On My Mind, the 1.30 metre with Interpreter and partnered European Cruise to victory in the 1.20 metre.

“We are delighted with the wins. The horses went really well and it was a great result. As always, Stuart’s (Clarke) courses were exceptional. The jump-off track in the 1.35m included many options and had quite a few turn backs.

“I was 10th to go of 12 and there had been a couple of pretty fast rounds but I just stuck to my plan and managed to come out faster.

“This horse (Always On My Mind) has being very competitive this year; he has won a Grand Prix a month this summer. He has taken a while to learn how to be competitive; he has a big stride he just had to learn how to use it.

“He is my top horse at the moment so it’s lovely to see him progress in this way,” said Hogg.

Always On My Mind is a Irish-bred 10-year-old gelding by Ard VDL Douglas out of Sandiamo by Andiamo. Owned by James and his father Edgar since he was a foal, he was produced at home and James has brought him up through the grades.

Hogg’s winning round in a time of 38.53 was 1.74 seconds faster than runner-up Conal McLoughlin and Shannondale Sonic in 40.27.

Third place went to Emily Turkington and her own Legend, while Mullingar’s Róisín Fagan slotted into fourth place.

Kenneth Graham and Lee Johnston’s Democrat occupied fifth place while Richard Smyth’s Charlton Clio ridden by Jonathon Smyth completed the winning line-up in sixth.

Saturday’s 1.35m two-phase class saw 35 line out. It was won by John Floody riding Jim and Tony Magennis’s eight-year-old gelding Shalamar Cassino (Cassino – Lastnews). The pair posted a jump-off time of 38.73 to secure the victory well ahead of second placed Heinrich Anhold who partnered Ivor Broderick and Neal Fearon’s 10-year-old gelding KMS Clintland (Clinton - Corland) to a time of 40.54.

Former champion jump jockey Paul Carberry and his own Brandonview Forest Edition slotted into third place in 41.31, while Patricia Stewart Greer and Gary Stewart’s Jones VD Bisschop finished in fourth place after posting 43.49.

John Floody and his second mount Brian Kieran’s UTS Blackrock were fifth in the fastest time of the day of 36.41 but with four to add, while Barry McCormack and his own Armani Velvet also had a fast time but with faults to add in 38.67 which left them in sixth place.

Hogg’s second win came in Sunday’s 1.20 metre when he rode European Cruise (Cruising – Quel Hero De Muze) to victory in a jump-off time of 31.39.

Commenting after the win, Hogg said: “He (European Cruise) is just seven years old. I’ve had him since he was a foal and I’m very pleased with how he has turned out. He is very comfortable at this level (1.20m) and is a real winner at this height; he would make someone a superb young rider horse and I think would win all around him, he’s very competitive and enjoys his job and really wants to please.”

Second place went to Rory Finnerty’s Emma ridden by Mark Finnerty in a time of 31.58, while third was Harriet Ella Cooper with Jimmy Cooke and Clare Hynes Carraigh Samraigh.

Donal Scully’s Irokos Finest and Sean McGee were fourth and Joanne Morton’s Blueoak Yogi ridden by Abby Morton slotted into fifth.

HAT-TRICK

Hogg’s trio of wins was completed when he won the 1.30m, riding Interpreter (Cruising – Diamond Rock), posting a winning time of 27.58.

“This horse introduced me to 1.40 metre jumping and taught me a huge amount. We’ve made plenty of mistakes together and we’ve both learned from them.

“I play around with him at 1.30-1.40m and I know he’s happy and comfortable with that height, I think it’s important to understand a horse’s potential and limitations, keeping them happy and at ease is how you can get the best performance from them.”

Hogg also took second place in the 1.30m with his other mount Intuitive. The pair were almost three seconds off the winning time in 30.80 but Hogg was delighted with the performance.

“He (Intuitive) is just six years old, he’s by Beach Ball and out of the same mother as Always On My Mind Sandiamo, who is by Andiamo.

“I’m very excited about him, he’s showing great promise and I think he is one for the bigger classes. He went really well in Dublin and now we are looking at the long-term plan for him. I think he’s one to watch for the future and want to plan carefully for him and give him the best experience possible.

“We put him out in the field after Dublin, for a break, but then the weather got so bad, we decided to bring him back in. We have decided what shows he may do for the rest of the year or we may just put him out.

“It’s nice at this stage in the season to have a bunch of healthy happy horses and keeping them that way is the priority at the moment.

“Our next show is Portmore and I will go to the September show in Cavan but haven’t finalised which horses I will bring just yet.”

Tina Stephenson and her own IIFons won the four-year-old final on Sunday. By Dallas out of Nellandra by Jus de Pommes this Dutch-bred gelding caught the eye of judges Ian Fearon and Gabriel Tunney.

Judy Murphy’s Javas Co Co, by Clem McMahon’s former Grand Prix mount Pacino out of Octane D’orcival by Kannan, slotted into second place when ridden by Lucy Stewart.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Graham and Gareth Godfrey’s Flexible Flight (Flex A Bill – Errigal Flight) finished in third place.