PETER Smyth had a win on home ground when taking the honours in last week’s TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix League at Omagh.

“It’s a good show, my local, so it’s always nice to do well there,” he told The Irish Field.

Smyth had been on form all day, starting with a runner-up finish with Dublin-bound mount Derrycastle Sensation in the four-year-old championship, as well as featuring in the top six of the Ulster Region 1.35m TRI Summer Tour.

However, he saved the best result for the main class of the day with Touch Button, coming out in front in a five-horse decider to clinch the victory in Friday’s €5,000 Grand Prix, sponsored by the Tyrone Farming Society.

By Gee Apollo, Touch Button is out of the Touchdown-sired dam Touched and was bred by owner Dorothea Wilson. Produced to great success through the age classes by Smyth, the now eight-year-old gelding made the step up to 1.40m last season, qualifying for the international seven and eight-year-old class in Dublin and also featured in the Eglinton Irish Masters.

The penultimate rider in the clocked round, Smyth had a clear idea of what to do, saying: “I had seen Kenneth (Graham) go and I knew I could be a good bit faster than him but I knew Mr Rockefeller was coming after me. Touch Button wouldn’t have the experience to be faster than Mr Rockefeller so I just wanted to have enough pressure on Vincent (Byrne) that he had to go for it.”

Smyth’s plan saw him deliver a faultless round in a time 43.44 seconds, over four seconds clear of Graham, and his tactical approach paid dividends when Byrne and Mr Rockefeller picked up eight faults, albeit in a fast time of 38.94, to finish in fifth place.

Graham, aboard the eight-year-old Simply Javlin-sired Democrat, had logged the only other double clear on the day, recording 47.48.

Gerard Clarke was the fastest of the four-faulters. Riding the Cruising-sired Kellswater Crimson, Clarke had put in a superb effort against the clock, across the line in 39.31 but slid down the line-up when faulting at the penultimate fence.

Angela Percy had aimed for a steadier pace with the 12-year-old KWPN gelding Zowiezo stopping the clock at 45.75 but faulted on the home stretch.

Percy has been on form of late, featuring regularly in the Ulster Region Summer Tour with both Zowiezo and new mount Westlands Ruby, a recent winner in Mid Antrim.

Jenny Rankin completed the top six as the fastest four-faulter in the first round with Baccarat.