THE Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour moved to Inistioge Show in Kilkenny last week with good numbers overall, despite a small startlist in the 1.35m division. Between the three divisions €5,000 was up for grabs and as a result all classes were hard fought.
Just 17 lined out in the 1.35m division where Daniel McAlinden took the win aboard AHG Whiterock Doctor Cruise when they were fastest of the two double clears in a time of 37.51 and in doing so, he collected the winners’ share of the €3,000 prize fund.
Bred by Ann Gannon Clancy, this 11-year-old gelding is by Indoctro out of the Cruising-sired dam Miss Whiterock Cruise.
David Moran and Bring Out the Barley opted for the safer lines and came home clear in 42.84 for second place. Owned by KM Sport Horses and bred by Jack O’Meara, the 12-year-old gelding is by Flexible out of the Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan-sired Olympic Darco. This combination had previously claimed third place in the round at Adamstown.
Placed fourth in Adamstown, Brendan Murphy and PNP Rocco added more points to the leaderboard tally when finishing on four faults in a time of 38.14 for third place. Owned by Ashley Stephens, the 14-year-old is by Chacoa out of School Hill Clover (Farney Clover).
Paddy O’Donnell was fastest of the four-faulters in the first round with Miriam Queally’s HBF Delmar in 79.29 for eventual fourth.
O’Donnell also claimed sixth place with his own eight-year-old Tommy Kay, when he had one down in the first round in 84.41.
Separating O’ Donnell’s placings was Jackilynn Breslin and Castlefield Miss, also carrying four faults in the first round in a time of 81.84. Owned and bred by Jim O’Neill, the 11-year-old mare is by Pacino out of Little Miss Puissance.
Competitive
In the 1.20m, a total of 53 combinations lined out in a bid to take home some of the €1,000 on offer. Winner of the 1.10m and 1.20m in the Flavours of Fingal show, Aileen McDermott struck again as she took the win in this division.
Riding Amber Balou, she delivered the winning clear round in 22.65. Owned and bred by the rider, the 10-year-old mare is by Baloubet du Rouet out of the Don Juan De La Bouverie-sired Kilcor Amber who was also campaigned by McDermott in the amateur ranks with much success.
Brendan Murphy and Castlelawn Diamond Junior were just over a second slower, clocking 23.69 for second place. Winners of the round in Adamstown, Gillian Bond and Vicomte DH Z were back in the ribbons, this time taking third place, clear in 24.06.
A clear from Francis Connors and the seven-year-old Primo Alibook Blue ABF in 25.05 saw them take fourth place, ahead of Deirdre Doyle and the six-year-old Kancruise, clear in 25.63.
Jackilynn Breslin also featured in this line-up, taking sixth place with Castlefield Miss, clear in 25.97.
In the 1.10m section 54 combinations went to post and from those, 26 delivered double clears. Claiming victory was amateur rider Laura Walshe (A) when she answered all the questions with the nine-year-old Ballinaguilkey Heritage in a time of 30.82. Owned and bred by the Walshe family, this well-related mare is by Heritage Fortunus out of Cavalier Milly (Ramiro B).
Junior rider Kate Keogh and Cillnabradden Diablo came closest to catching the winner when they came home in 33.30 for second place.
Little separated the next placing as Patrick Joyce clocked 33.93 with Glyntown Blake for third place. Accounting for fourth place was Tom O’Shea and River Erne after they stopped the clock in 35.23.
Jackilynn Breslin picked up another placing, this time taking fifth with Castlefield Gem, coming home in 35.46. Completing the top six line-up was young rider Michelle Lana Hughes and Captain Jackson, clear in 37.34.