PORTMORE Equestrian was a hive of activity last weekend, as it played host to their Spring Championships. On Sunday, the £2,000 1.35m Grand Prix saw 35 combinations going to post. It was a battle between Alex Finney and Jonathan Smyth, with the two riders taking four of the top placings in the top six line-up.

Claiming this victory was young rider Alex Finney aboard L’Esprit Hero Z, when she was fastest of five double clears in a 10-way jump-off in a time of 35.47. Owned by Eamon Bishop, the 15-year-old gelding was bred by Gerry Marron and Luc Henry and is by Lexicon and out of the For Pleasure-sired dam, Ikea Van’t Roosakker. This is the second big win for this combination of late, having claimed victory in the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour in Kernan’s in March. L’Esprit Hero Z was previously campaigned by Dermott Lennon and, amongst their wins on home soil, was the Premier Series in Mullingar in 2022.