Emer Bermingham

KILKENNY’s Vincent Byrne had only a short journey to make to put his mark on the TRM/Horseware Grand Prix leader board as he rode to victory in the €5,000 Ballygowan Water-sponsored class at his local show at Thomastown last Sunday aboard Mr Rockefeller.

Owned by James Weldon, Mr Rockefeller is a 12 year-old gelding by Ard VDL Douglas out of Kings Aire.

A delighted Byrne said: “I knew from looking at the start-list that it was going to be a very competitive class as there was a lot of experienced combinations in the class. With Ger (O’Neill) having three horses in the jump-off, I knew he would set the target to beat. I knew I had no choice but to go for it. At the second fence I was conscious just to straighten up a bit and thankfully it didn’t take from the rhythm as it was quite tight back to the next oxer. I knew then that I could move up at that point as Mr Rockefeller is particularly careful at the verticals. Four set strides after the double meant that I couldn’t leave out a stride. I took a bit of a chance at the last fence and jumped it at a bit of an angler and thankfully it paid off. The ground was ideal here today and the show committee did an excellent job in making it a very good show.”

Local course designer Pat Hutchinson designed a fair track for the 20 starters, which saw 13 combinations proceed to the timed round. In the jump-off, riders could make up time in the turn backs to the first three fences and then later in the turn back from the wall to the vertical at nine. A gallop to the last was the final requirement to be in with a chance of taking victory.

Ger O’Neill certainly had a win in mind and he maximised his chances when he secured three places in the jump-off. Going first with Hurricane, he set the target when he delivered a clear in 42.84 seconds, which later proved good enough for eventual fifth place.

Double handed in the jump-off, Martin Hynes has his first look at the course with Galway Brigade but there was anxious moments for the Galway rider when they rattled the vertical at nine. However, with luck on his side everything remained in place and a clear in 45.02 saw him finish in eventual sixth place.

Gerard Clarke set off in his usual fast pace with Kellswater Crimson. A series of good turns in particular to fence nine saw him up on target and a gallop to the last saw him cross the line in 39.94 to take the lead.

Francis Connors opted for the steady and calculated approach with Erne Ladygoldilocks and it paid off as he crossed the line with a clean sheet. However, a slower time of 45.51 seconds meant that he finished in seventh place.

Returning with Dondoctro Ryal K, O’Neill was keen to re-take the lead. Although he pulled out all the stops with a series of tight lines, he failed to demote Clarke from the top spot when crossing the line in 41.19 seconds which would later see him occupy third place

Winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour league, Liam O’Meara had his foot firmly to the floor with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight. However, things didn’t go as planned for the Tipperary rider when faulting at the second part of the double.

Paul Beecher erred on the side of caution with Ikona V.’T Recht Eind and delivered a clear , but their time of 52.54 meant that they finished in eighth place.

Vincent Byrne knew what he needed to do to demote Clarke from pole position. Byrne made up time from the start and a series of tight turns with the big striding Mr Rockefeller saw set the unbeatable time of 38.20 seconds, leaving Clarke to take second.

Moving up the draw, Martin Hynes had another opportunity to alter the standings when he returned with Rockhill Harlequin. However despite lodging another clear in a faster time of 42.56, he finished behind O’Neill and Dondoctro Ryal K in fourth place.

Last to go, O’Neill had his foot to the floor with Dree Boeken’s Grossos Roeschen but a tight turn about to the third fence cost him dearly as he incurred four faults and ruled him out of contention.

Young riders Phillip Carey (Hip Boy) and Jack Ryan (Little Guidam) also made it into the jump-off, but both faulted at fence nine.