Judith Faherty

DAMIEN Griffin recorded his first Grand Prix win of the season in front of a delighted home crowd when triumphing in the Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix at Ballinasloe last Saturday aboard Pamela Donaghy’s Tabby.

Nine combinations jumped clear over Paul Duffy’s track in the first round of the Bourns Sport Horses-sponsored class, and Griffin had an anxious wait as Liam O’Meara followed him and threatened to clinch the class until faulting at the final fence.

“It was very important to get the home win for me today,” said Griffin. “We put up a memorial cup for my late mother on Friday in the Connacht Grand Prix and I was just beaten by 0.4 of a second into second place on Lissyegan Lui Royale. It was very very exciting to win it today. I thought Liam O’Meara was going to beat me but it just worked out super. It’s always brilliant to win a big class on home ground.”

He continued: “Tabby heads to Mullingar this weekend, he will jump the big class on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Monday and I will plan to keep following the National and Premier Grand Prix leagues. I haven’t quite decided yet, but I might go away for a few weeks at some stage during the year.”

Darryl Walker, winner of the 2015 National Grand Prix Series, played pathfinder on Riverside Ace, breaking the beam in 40.92 seconds to set the standard. He held his lead for the next six riders until Griffin entered the ring with Tabby. The 11-year-old Captain Clover-sired gelding has been a great servant to Griffin since he took up the ride in 2012. A tight turn back and a good gallop to the final vertical saw them shave a second off Walker’s time to cross the line in 39.63.

Co Clare’s Joan Greene followed Griffin aboard Liam Brennan’s Coolgrange Cruising and recorded a faultless round in a time of 43.77 to finish in third position.

Last to go, Liam O’Meara, winner of the National Grand Prix at Cavan Equestrian Centre last month, didn’t hang around aboard his speed specialist Mr Coolcaum and they looked set to claim the class when well up on the time coming to the final fence. Without taking a pull, he took a risk at the tall vertical, and crossed the line with the quickest time of the day (38.95), but it ended up on the ground for four faults.

Three other combinations recorded clear rounds. The fastest of these was Edward Doyle and Derryinver Luxury Cruise in 44.77 to claim fourth place. A new mount for Doyle, the Lux Z-sired entire was produced up through the ranks by Catherine Thornton. Gort’s Jessica Burke filled fifth position aboard CC Captain Cruise and Shane Goggins was the last of the double clears when taking the tactical decision to jump a clear round in a time of 54.60 seconds on Defi Bigtime.