Tara Dunne

NEAL Fearon opened Sunday’s young horse classes at the Emerald International with a win in the Six-Year-Old final. Triple-handed in a 13-horse decider, Fearon proved third time lucky when securing the victory with Claricella in the €3,000 class.

Having had two chances to work out the shortest route home in the jump-off, Fearon took full advantage of the draw when, as last to go, he stopped the clock at 44.48 seconds. Owned by Peig Van Amerongen, the six-year-old mare is by Clarimo out of a Con Air dam. Claricella was imported from Germany at the beginning of the season and produced this year by Castlefield Sport Horses. The mare has shown good promise with Nicholas Butler, finishing second in the Cruising Six-Year-Old National Championship at the Dublin Horse Show.

Fearon said: “Peig [Van Amerongen] is off due to injury so I have the horses until she is back in action. I’ve only had this mare two or three weeks but she seems to be really careful and scopey. I think she has all the potential to be a Grand Prix horse.”

Fractions of a second proved costly for Alexander Butler who took the runner-up position with Dekato. Drawn at the halfway stage of the jump-off, Butler had found over a second on the then-leading time with the Upgrade gelding by recording a time of 44.56 but was caught by the narrowest of margins by Fearon.

Tholm Keane proved next fastest on the day with Future Storm, logging a time of 45.81. Keane only took up the reins on the Future Trend mare in July but the partnership has gelled quickly. Future Storm was produced by Joe Owens and was a runner-up in the 2012 Four-Year-Old Championship at the Dublin Horse Show.

RAISED COURSE

Catherine Thornton and Galway Bay Easy Touch, the 2013 Cavan Classic Five-Year-Old champions, were the penultimate combination to take on the shortened and raised course and put in a solid attempt at the time to finish in 46.00. Bred by Justin Burke of Galway Bay stud, Galway Bay Easy Touch is by Prince De Vaux, a son of Flipper D’Elle, out of the Touch Stone dam Simply Touch.

Liam O’Meara was close behind Thornton when the clock showed 46.15 for his round with the Errigal Flight-sired Kenny’s Flight. With a high standard of jumping in the six-year-old divisions, a double clear did not ensure a place in the top six and Francis Connors provided the cut-off point. Second in the ring with Drumin Jacqueline, Connors made it home in 48.16.