JESSICA Burke captured her second SJI National Grand Prix victory of the season when she won the 1.40m class in Coilóg Equestrian last Sunday.

Riding Express Trend, an eight-year-old gelding by Future Trend out of Condios Express, she saw off stiff competition in a six-way jump-off to secure the win.

“We’re really, really happy with how he (Future Trend) went today. He is particularly special to me because we’ve produced him since he was a three-year-old. We always thought he was very scopey, but he is also quite spooky so we had to bring him along slowly so it’s very satisfying to have him win here today,” the Co Galway-based rider said afterwards.

“I was first to go in the jump-off, but sometimes I think that’s nearly better; it can actually be a good thing. I had a plan and I stuck to it. I just wanted to jump a good clear; not to go too mad. He is only eight years old but I know he has a big canter and plenty of scope so I thought I’d use the arena and his stride; and it worked out well for me, he is very careful as well, so I think I put a bit of pressure on the rest of them.

“I‘m very lucky that I have a few good horses that are ready to move up to Grand Prix level this year.

“We’ve put a lot of emphasis on producing young horses for the past few years, and now some of them have progressed to the higher levels, so I’m lucky to have a few to work with for the bigger classes.”

JUMP-OFF

Just six of the 32 starters managed to make it through to the jump-off against the clock. Burke was first to go.

As pathfinder she stuck to her plan. Without rushing Express Trend she carefully steered him around her well thought-out route. They left all the fences up and stopped the clock at 41.18 to set the pace.

Second in was Darryl Walker riding Sandra Duffy’s Belgian-bred mare Caliva Charca MM Z (Calido I - Bon Ami).They faulted at the second fence and then also had the first part of the double down for eight faults in a time of 45.19.

Gerard Clarke and Kellswater Crimson were next. Several incidents of disobedience resulted in the pair earning 16 jumping and 21 time faults to finish on a total of 37 faults and sixth place.

Gemma Phelan was next with Rory Costigan’s eight-year-old gelding GRC Acapella (Luidam – Aldato). The pair began badly having the first fence down, they then went on to fault at the first part of the double to finish on eight faults in 42.31 but this still left them in third place in the final line-up.

The penultimate pair, Louis Gates Hardiman and Erasmus VD Heffinck, produced an impressive clear round in a time of 49.78 to slot into the runner-up spot.

Last to go was Darryl Walker and his second mount, CCS Ottomatic. The pair began well, but a refusal at fence four upset their rhythm and they finished on 15 faults, in a time of 51.25, for fifth place.

Speaking about her plans for the future, the winner said: “Last year was a really brilliant year for me. I had some good results at the Dublin Horse Show and I kind of broke on to the Grand Prix circuit.

“This year I have this horse (Express Trend) and I also have a very good seven-year-old stallion, so I have to concentrate on getting them into the Grand Prix ranks, I also have a couple of more experienced horses from last year in my team so it’s all kind of coming together now.

“I still have a couple of the horses that won in Dublin last year, and they are just getting better all the time. I feel like we have some really nice horses heading into the summer season.

“I’ve been lucky, not only with the horses but with the owners too, we’ve put together a really good team; so I suppose I’m just trying to focus on keeping the real quality ones to jump.

“Of course I know that some of them will have to be sold, but I think some of the horses I have now will go on to be real quality top horses in the future.”

The next two rounds of the National Grand Prix league take place in Omagh and Cork this weekend.

Liam O’Meara currently holds the first and second places in the league with Mr Coolcaum (30 points) and Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight (28). His closest rivals, Jack Ryan and Ciaran Nallon both have 15 points apiece.