BRENDAN Murphy and Immun Ocean Ogara added a third Autumn League Grand Prix victory to their tally when they proved best in the 12th round in Killossery Lodge Stud last Sunday.

Just 18 combinations lined out for the 1.35m Frank Glynn-designed track and just six of those managed to make it through to the jump-off.

Murphy proved fastest of these aboard the Alan Robertson-owned and bred 10-year-old gelding by Numero Uno, breaking the finish beam in a time of 33.54 to secure the victory.

Speaking after the class, Murphy said: “I’m delighted with the win. I think I made up the time and gained some ground at the first turn into the second fence, and then again at the turn back to the double. I think the win kept the door just slightly open for me with regard to the league. The next rounds are in Cavan, a place which has proved to be a lucky ‘oul spot for me in the past so you never know.

“I’ve been riding him (Immun Ocean Ogara) since the summer of last year and we have had some decent results; we won the first round in Mullingar and then another round in October in Cavan, as well as producing a good result in Portmore so I’m confident he can do well.

“In addition to Ogara, I also have the gelding Gaslight VDL (Cardento x Baloubet du Rouet) for the Grand Prix and I’m lucky to have some nice six and seven-year-olds in the yard. During the lockdown I was kept busy bringing them along. We just kept the Grand Prix horses ticking over waiting for the shows to start again, it’s great to be back.

“I’m particularly excited to see what 2021 has in store for a couple of the six-year-olds I’m currently working with; Sandra Duffy’s Ecklands Helando (Cobra x HHS BR Charlton) and the Dutch-bred mare Je Belle Stability are two mares which are showing great potential.

“The immediate plan is to go to Cavan this weekend and then have a break for Christmas before getting ready for the spring league in 2021,” Murphy, who works for Vinnie Duffy in Co Mayo, added.

League leader John McEntee and Stephex Stables’ Hip Girl took the runner-up spot, stopping the clock at 34.57. This gave the pair another eight league points to bring their current total to 56 points with two rounds to go, while Murphy lies in third with 36 points after Sunday’s win. In second place, despite not competing last weekend, is Philip Gaw on 38 points.

John McEntee’s younger sister Emma and the Miguel Bravo-owned seven-year-old gelding MHS New York (Quidam Junior x Cavalier Royale) finished in third place in 35.77. AYoung rider, Ellie Humphries and Alison Mercer’s 11-year-old mare CV Santander (Womanizer x Coevers Diamond Boy) slotted into fourth in 40.84.

Murphy and his second mount Martin O’Dea’s Cruising gelding WCE Cruco were fifth. It was the 16-year-old gelding’s second show on Irish soil since 2009 as he has spent the best part of the last 10 years in Europe, competing up to 1.50m level under Alex Duffy. He jumped at Oliva, Spain, in October under Alex’s partner, Swedish show jumper Jonna Ekberg, before returning to Duffy Sport Horses in Mayo. John Floody and Kathryn Magennis’ eight-year-old gelding Accidental Diamond (Diamond Roller x High Roller) completed the line up in sixth.

The final two rounds of the 2020 Autumn Series will take place in Cavan this weekend; the 1.35m Grand Prix takes place today (Saturday) before the final 1.40m round tomorrow.