Irish riders rack up strong results

IRISH riders recorded a series of good placings at Oliva where Kildare’s Mikey Pender added to his record sheet when second in the 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier. Riding Marion Hughes’s HHS Fortune, Pender kept all the poles in place in a time of 60.45 seconds. Winner of the class was Belgian rider Koen Vereecke and Donna Vd Windeweg Z who stopped the clock in 59.84.

Last Saturday Pender took another runner-up place with the Ita Brennan-bred HHS Calais in the 1.45m, when he answered all the questions in 36.41 to take home just over €5,000. Leading the victory lap was Belgian’s Andres Vereecke and Diadarco Van Evendael Z, who clocked 36.17.

On Wednesday in the six-year-old final, Wexford’s Harry Allen and Kurkuma Della Caccia took the runner-up place when they posted a clear in 28.05. Alex Duffy and Erevan de Flusel were clear in 30.26 for sixth.

In the seven-year-old final, Niall Talbot slotted into fifth place with his own chesnut gelding MEC Look At Me, clear in 37.01. Last Friday, Talbot also took seventh place in the 1.40m with Corvette Van Overis Z when he came home with nothing to add in 28.12.

Harry Allen added to his record card when he took third in the 1.30m Silver Tour with It’s Me Des Saules, crossing the line in 65.41. Older brother Bertram delivered a clear with Cornet in 69.42 for fifth. Taking the win was English rider Joanne McGlory and Calimera, clear in 61.92.

Harry Allen also took the runner-up spot in the 1.40m Silver Grand Prix. Riding Italy HDH, he lodged a clear in 36.02. He was pipped at the post by French rider Alix Ragot and Ceylan de Blondel, clear in 36.54.

Galway’s Laura Devine and Baby Boom O’Moulin emerged victorious in the 1.40m Bronze Tour, clear in 24.50. Little separated the next placing as McGlory and Triomphe Kervec galloped home in 25.05, ahead of Laura Rayjasse and Venus de l’Eyre, clear in 25.15.