CAVAN proved a profitable outing for Daniel Fitzgerald as he also took the top honours in the lucrative six/seven-year-old Hankook Cavan Classic Final and brought home the winner’s share of the €6,500 on offer.

The young rider partnered Ballywalters Farm’s Quarzo Della Caccia to victory when he had one down in the final round in 35.30 seconds. The seven-year-old gelding is well related being by Quick Star out of the Contender-sired Sharifa II. Cavan was the first out for the combination as the gelding was previously campaigned by Daren Hopkins up to 1.30m level. Last year, Wexford international Bertram Allen competed him, taking a runner up place at Opglabeek CSIYH1*.

Of the 38 combinations that booked their place in the final, five proceeded to the third round and no triple clears were delivered.

Fellow young rider Pataire Crawford and the seven-year-old Ardfry Van V Uriko also had one down in the final round, but a slower time of 37.66 saw her take the runner-up spot. Another young rider, Niamh McEvoy took third place when she faulted in the final round with GBBS Int.-owned BP St Patrick (7yo) in 39.76.

Aoife Ownes and Omard Connery (7yo) had two down in the final round in 41.36 for eventual fourth. Richard Kerins and Ovidius Van De Kooldries (7yo) proved out of luck in the third round when they had two on the ground in 42.27 for fifth place. Edward Little and Carnlea Premier Balou (7yo) were denied their place in the third round, but a single time fault in the second round secured sixth.