SOME 30 combinations lined out for Sunday’s seven and eight-year-old Grand Final. Of these, just eight managed to make it into the jump-off.

Young rider Orla Queally proved best riding her father John’s seven-year-old Numero Uno mare Nour Alain to capture the win in a time of 36.75.

Out of the Heartbreaker mare Crown Lady Cruise, she was bred by Patrick Keane, and has been consistent this summer, winning the seven and eight-year-old qualifier in Wexford at the end of August and taking the runner-up spot in Tipperary.

John Floody and another seven-year-old, Clare Craig’s gelding HTS Carnanbreagha finished as runner-up. By Sir Shutterfly out of Ballybunion Aldatus by Aldatus Z, he was bred by Brian Kieran and has shown great potential winning and placing at several 1.30m competitions over the past few months. They stopped the clock at 37.71.

Third went to Liam O’Meara riding James Nash’s eight-year-old gelding Quality Command (OBOS Quality - Errigal Flight) who broke the beam at 39.15.

Young rider Ben Cheasty and Kathleen O’Riordan’s gelding Gembro (Ustinov - Aldatus Z) finished fourth in 39.90. Fifth place went to Sean Glynn and Jack Goley’s Boleybawn Caymen, while Richard Kerins and Gabriel Jackman and Ursula McDonald’s Beach Buggy were sixth.

Six-year-old final

Olive Clarke certainly made her presence felt in the six-year-old final taking first and third places.

Clarke won the competition aboard her own home-bred gelding FSS Outlaw. By Cardento out of Cimenta C by Orlando van de Heffinck, the pair posted a time of 43.84 to secure the top spot.

Young rider Meadhbh Mealiff and the Jim Bolger-owned and bred Aeraiocht, a gelding by Amaretto Darco out of Star Dance by I’m A Star, were second in 44.97.

Clarke and her second mount Charles Hanley’s Trendy Caruso, a gelding by Captain Caruso out of Miss Concetto by Concetto DH 41, slotted into third when stopping the clock at 46.33.

Stacey Watling and Joseph Gallagher’s Kittens, a mare by Cobra out of the Maltstriker mare Pure Irish Malt, finished in fourth place while Mark Duffy and Karen Geoghegan’s Caraghs Trendy Master were fifth. Paul Caves and his own Cafre Quality Clover rounded out the placings in sixth.

Five-year-old final

Junior riders came to the fore in the five-year-old final. Claire Kavanagh and the home-bred mare Clonagoose Sky Bouncer (by Killinick Bouncer out of Laura Dubh by Scribano), claimed first place when they posted a jump-off clear in 44.79.

Sean Gormally and the Jessica Burke-bred CHF Miss Stetter, a mare by Stetter out of Puma Cruise by Cougar, finished in second place in 45.51.

Louth-based producer Tara Dunne slotted into third place riding her own Albytwo, a mare by Cooley For Keeps out of Hilton Alibi by Pacino, bred at Clem McMahon’s Hilton Farm. They posted a time of 46.49.

Fourth place was claimed by Elaine O’Neill riding the gelding DMS Kings Rising (OBOS Quality - Ricardo Z). Fifth went to Samuel Wilson and Golden Mermus, while Liam O’Meara and Jim Seymour’s June Johnson were sixth.

Four-year-old final

Louise Craig and Cherry Wine were the four-year-old champions, taking first place from a starting field of 45. By the Belmont House Stud’s Dutch-bred stallion Stetter, she is out of a Cruising dam named Roadstown Cruise and was bred by Michael Doherty.

The runner-up spot went to Shannon Treanor riding Trebra Lorenzo, a gelding by OBOS Quality 004 out of The Forge by Ard VDL Douglas, bred by Victor Kiernan.

Third was Lammy Chipanix, a mare by Aganix du Seigneur out of Chip of Coevers by Coevers Diamond Boy, bred by Norman Watt, and ridden and owned by Olivia A. Roulston.

Mirroring her finish in the six-year-olds, Stacey Watling took fourth place here, this time partnering Nancy Mulligan, a mare by Beach Ball out of Iona Beach by Classic Vision, bred by Thomas McGuigan.

Paddy O’Donnell and Cluttahina Lighting finished in fifth place while sixth went to Suzanne Posnett riding DSL Lola.