LANDLYSTES Rubina, ridden by Robert Harrison, won the 11th round of the Gain Equine Nutrition/Alltech Ireland National Grand Prix league at Kernan’s Equestrian last Saturday.

Sponsored by Swiss-based asset management company TRY Capital to the tune of €4,000, some 31 combinations lined-out for the 1.40m competition.

Following the win, Robert Harrison said; “I’m delighted to win here today. Kernans put on a fantastic show every year and we really enjoyed it.

“I was riding our own Landlystes Rubina, a Danish-bred mare by Heartbeat. She is 13 years old now and we bought her when she was just six. We’ve had some good results together, we won the Autumn Grand Prix league and have been placed in several New Heights Grand Prix as well as at some two- and three-star shows so she’s been very successful for me.

“That was the first outright win in about two years so I’m really pleased. She is naturally a quick mover. There was a turn back inside from fence one to a vertical at two there today and she popped that and that meant we could down one less stride down to the next oxer.

“After I jumped she landed and just spun back, as she landed she did have a little slip and her hind end went out from under her but she picked up again and went down to the double in six strides.

“She landed out from the double and she had spun left before I even thought about it, she was fantastic.

“I was hoping I’d be in the top three, top four today because there were 10 good combinations in the jump-off. There was a good standard here today so I’m delighted with the win. I had a plan in my head going in and I stuck to it. I know what her strengths are and it worked out for us.

“Kernan’s is a great venue and James has it looking great. I said to him earlier that you have a lot of new jumps and he said that’s become his new hobby, buying jumps. It looks fabulous and really colourful.

“Rafael Suarez built the course here today and he always designs a very good track, I don’t think anyone went home disappointed.

“Next week is Balmoral and I’m hoping to do the New Heights there with her. I haven’t really made much more of a plan with her because she is the only older horse I have right now, I’ve a lot of youngsters so it’s a matter of trying to fit everything in. If she continues to go as well as she did today I’d be delighted with that,” said Harrison.

Competitive action

Harrison was first to go and set the pace in the 10-way decider with a clear round in a time of 34.91.

Junior rider Niamh McEvoy, riding her father Richard’s nine-year-old Dutch-bred mare Haifa OL, posted a foot-perfect round in 39.71 which would see them into eventual fourth place.

Third in John McEntee and Stephex Stables Hip Girl were right on target as they approached the fourth fence where an unfortunate stop saw the pair part company and suffer elimination.

Next was Ger Clarke and Lupins Lux Z (Lux Z - Cruising) who had the second fence down for four faults in 36.45 which put them into fifth place as the fastest four-faulter.

HSC Sunny Jim, ridden by Edward Little, was fifth to go. This eight-year-old gelding is owned and was bred by Heather Crawford and is by Pacino out of Sunblest by Conquistador. He showed great promise when posting a second clear round in 42.72 to claim fifth place.

Savannah Marshall and her own Dutch-bred gelding Flambeau were unlucky to have the last fence down in 38.89 which left them just outside the top-six in seventh place.

Cavan’s Victoria Clarke was next to take it on aboard the German-bred 11-year-old gelding Chinatown. A well executed round saw the pair come close to catching the leader when they recorded a clear round in 34.92 for the eventual runner-up spot.

John McEntee was eighth to go riding his second mount, the Bravo Hughes Ltd’s eight-year-old mare MHS Cardenta (Cardento - Diamond Serpent), they incurred eight faults which left them outside the placings.

Kathryn Magennis’ Accidental Diamond (Diamond Roller - High Roller), ridden by John Floody, then produced a clear in 38.78 which would be good enough to see them take third place.

Last to go was Ger Clarke and the nine-year-old gelding King Lupin (Lux Z - Cruising). Mistakes at both parts of the double saw their hopes dashed when they finished on eight faults and out of the places.

The next round of the National Grand Prix League takes place today at Balmoral.

Wins for Moloney and Foley

ARDKYLE B and Eddie Moloney dominated the 1.30m which saw 29 go to post. Just nine managed to produce a double clear round.

Moloney was fastest in 41.79. Owned by Peter O’Toole, this eight-year-old gelding is by Aganix Du Seigneur out of Abercrombie B, by O-Piloth and was bred by Etter Sport Horses.

Niamh McEvoy and Haifa OL were second in 43.04, while Robert Russell, riding Dstud Peter, took third in 45.18.

Fourth went to Luke Campbell and the eight-year-old Derryinver Premier Sarah (Premier Sport - Cento).

Jonathan Smyth and JJ Macino took fifth while sixth went to Savannah Marshall and Flambeau.

Young Rider Sean Foley and Sheikh Samir Mirdad’s Mirdads Zamzaaam were victorious in the 1.20m, stopping the clock at 35.47 to take the top spot.

Second went to John Floody and John Downey’s mare Away Again (Harlequin du Carel - Rockhill Clover) in 35.58.

Junior rider Katie McEntee and Lewis Lowry’s Cecil Bready (Templebready Fear - Cult Hero) were third in 35.79, while fourth went to Ryan O’Neill riding Jim Maneely’s Calcourt Corona.

Fifth was McEvoy and her second mount, the seven-year-old Lisboy Louie (Luidam - Sinn Time), while sixth was Hannah Patterson and James Kernan’s six-year-old Touch of Paris (Paris Blue Merelsnest Z - Touchdown).