Just when it looked like Francis Connors had built up an unassailable lead at the top of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Munster Grand Prix league table, Seamus Hayes hit back with a stunning win in the 11th round of the series at Maryville Stables in Cork.

For the third time this season the Tipperary rider’s winning mount was the Tina McDermott-owned Chipolini VM Z with the Cassini II-sired seven-year-old having already won league rounds at Tallow and Cork Summer Show.

Meanwhile, the stallion has also already booked his place in the seven and eight-year-old International class at the up-coming Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

Six of the 28 starters made it into the jump-off at Maryville, with Seamus Hayes posting the winning round when clear in 31.28 seconds.

Waterford’s Tadhg Beecher took the runner-up spot with Loughnatousa Blakeney Crannagh after another clear in the fractionally slower time of 31.40.

Seamus Hayes grabbed another slice of the prize fund when taking third spot with Barichello W, while another member of the Beecher family, former Hickstead Derby winner Paul Beecher, finished fourth with Captain Kelly.

Tipperary’s Liam O Meara kept his hopes of league glory alive with a fifth place finish aboard Zamir, picking up four faults against the clock, while the only other rider to jump clear in round one, Peter Leonard, also finished the clock round with just one fence on the floor to take sixth place with Capitol Cruis.

With the Dublin Horse Show and Millstreet International looming, the Munster Grand Prix league now takes a four week break before round twelve of the series at Limerick Show on August 24th.

And, with just four more league rounds remaining, the battle for the overall title still hangs in the balance as Seamus Hayes win means he is just six points behind league leader Francis Connors, while Liam O’Meara is also in contention, 15 points behind Hayes in third.