Tara Dunne

DARRAGH Ryan closed the curtain on the Horse Sport Ireland’s ISH Studbook Showjumping Series with a win in the seven-year-old final with Glimmering.

Leading the pack as fourth to go in a 12-strong decider, Ryan’s faultless round in a time of 35.82 would leave the remainder of riders chasing an unattainable target.

Speaking after the result the Tipperary rider said: “Glimmering has been good this year, just lacking a bit of luck, but she jumped fantastic today. I was early to go in the jump-off, so I felt I had no choice but to really go for it and it all worked out.”

Owned and bred by Dr Noel Cawley, Glimmering is by Loughehoe Guy out of the Cruising-sired Cruise Leaf.

Previously ridden by Ethen Ahearne, the mare has a good competition record. As a five-year-old she was an Irish Breeders Classic (IBC) top 10 finalist and was the runner-up in the IBC Consolation as a six-year-old. This year she made the step up to 1.35m level under Ryan.

The stable jockey for Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables is one of the confirmed selections for Lanaken.

He will be contesting the World Breeding Championships with the five-year-olds ESI Star Struck and Boleybawn Actor, as well as the six-year-old Ballypatrick Flamenco, a half-brother to Glimmering.

Bourns Sporthorses filled the next two places in the line-up at The Meadows.

Declan Egan was the faster of the two with the Califax-sired Ringwood Zebo across the line in 36.58, while Jenny Rankin returned clear in 37.62 with the Luidam mare Beech Hill Lucia, a former winner of the Dublin Horse Show Six-Year-Old Cruising Championship.

Francis Connors showed the form that earned him Lanaken selection with Primo Troy with a faultless performance in a time of 38.45.

Connors finished just outside the top six with his second mount Pembrook Milenia, who is also on the list for Lanaken. Conan Wright delivered the only other fault-free round of the jump-off. Paired with the Luidam-sired stallion Ard Golden Crisp, Wright came home in 40.27.

Completing the line-up was Conor McEneaney and Mullabrack Royale Pride. Giving Ryan a few tense moments, McEneaney stopped the clock at a very fast time of 34.51 but with the final fence down.

Gemma Phelan may not have featured on the day with Loughnavatta Indigo but they had amassed enough points over the season to secure the league title.

Exceptionally consistent throughout the league, Loughnavatta Indigo has also featured in the Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix League. Owned and bred by Rory Costigan, the Luidam-sired gelding is out of the dam Loughnavatta Sabrina, by VDL Arkansas.

Costigan, speaking to The Irish Field, said: “I bought his dam to breed so it’s been a long time in the planning. He hasn’t got the most experience but he just always steps up to the mark. I’m delighted to be going to Lanaken, full credit to Gemma (Phelan) she does a brilliant job.”