KENNETH Graham was the winner of Saturday’s opening International Table C speed class, sponsored by Jim Derwin Bloodstock, riding his own 11-year-old mare Lyrical.

A total of 54 entries took on the 1.30-1.40m track and riders wasted no time in attempting to lay down the gauntlet for the fastest time over the 11 fences. The Table C speed format adds two seconds to the final time for each fence that is knocked down.

Alexander Butler, drawn fourth to go riding Gina Mc Cann’s HS Copperhead Cruise, set the bar high laying down a quick time of 54.56 seconds. The pair have been in flying form this indoor season coming off a win two weeks ago in the Allianz 1.40m Grand Prix Series also at Cavan.

Fresh off a win on Friday afternoon, Paddy O’Donnell, a man that has been on a run of remarkable form lately, riding Jo Rimmer’s Finnegan’s Whiskers, tore around the track leaving all the poles standing in a time of 53.80.

O’Donnell held the lead all the way through the class until last rider to go. Kenneth Graham entered the arena to steal the limelight coming home in a time of 52.80, taking a full second off O’Donnell’s time.

Graham has been campaigning Lyrical throughout the year taking on the New Heights Champions Series during the summer and more recently the Allianz Autumn Grand Prix Series. The Irish-bred mare spent her younger years being brought through the young horse classes with Kelda Morgan before Graham took over the ride in 2013.

Speaking after the class, Graham commented: ‘Lyrical is a super competitive horse. She seems to really enjoy coming to the international show here in Cavan. She was bought here in Cavan originally as a three-year-old.”

Graham knew exactly what he had to do to take home the win. “I had watched Paddy O Donnell’s round and he was very quick so going last was a good advantage for me as I knew the strides I would have to leave out to beat the time. I’m delighted,” he added.

O’Donnell was happy with is second place finish, saying: “It’s really nice for Finnegan’s Whisker’s as the girls who used to look after him have travelled all the way from the UK to watch him this week.”

Alexander Butler held his place to finish third. Jessica Burke pulled off a fourth place finish riding Bernard Jordan’s Cloonguish Vivaro and in fifth place, taking a flyer to the last was young Australian rider Jake Hunter riding Lauren Kardel’s Aimoise Valiere.