ON a double bill weekend of the Gain Alltech National Grand Prix League, Galway Equestrian played host to the second round on Bank Holiday Monday. Leading the victory lap was Kilkenny’s Jack Brennan when he delivered the winning round with Sinead Brennan’s MHS High Hopes. The extended Brennan family have certainly been in form of late with a host of impressive results in the TRM Showjumpers Club Spring Tour.

Speaking after the win, Jack Brennan said: “I am delighted with MHS High Hopes. I hadn’t jumped many Grands Prix over the last year, and he really tried his heart out for me. I was early to go in the jump off and my dad and I had discussed my turns and taking a stride out to the last. I had a tight turn back to the second last pink vertical where Hopes was nearly forced to jump the wing, but he cleared it and flew the last.

“I would like to say a special thanks to my brother James who rides all the horses during the week while I’m in college studying for my veterinary exams. I am looking forward to the rest of the year with a bit of a luck I can have more days like today”.

The gelding has no shortage of experience at this level, having jumped to 1.50m with Ger O’Neill. In 2020, the pair won the Premier Series at Mullingar. He was previously campaigned by Laura Renwick in 2022 up to four-star level and, earlier this year, was ridden by Jack’s brother James to third place in the Spring Tour at Tipperary EC.

Bred by Ita Brennan, the 12-year-old gelding is by Quidam Junior I out of the Cavalier-sired dam Gowran Lady. He is a full-brother to Greg Broderick’s 2016 Rio Olympic mount MHS Going Global and MHS Grand Slam, who is currently campaigned by James.

Third leg

There was a good turnout for the third leg of the national series with 38 combinations taking on the Tom Holden-designed track. From the original starters, seven combinations booked their place against the clock.

Only two combinations produced a second clear against the clock and Brennan was fastest of those in 37.53 seconds.

With a win on his mind, Jake Hunter didn’t hang about with Cento Blue, stopping the clock in a time of 38.27, which would later prove good enough for the runner-up spot. Owned by Sandra Duffy and Ireland Horse Sport & Leisure Ltd, Cento Blue is a 14-year-old gelding by Centadel. This combination finished second to Eoin Brennan (Eskola M) at the TRM Showjumpers Club at Broadmeadows in March. The gelding was previously campaigned by Hannah O’Shea at home and abroad.

No stranger to pressure, junior rider Paddy Reape was fastest of the four faulters with the Jonathan Reape-owned Creevagh Special in a time of 40.68 for third place. Bred by the late Ronnie Hollinger, the 13-year-old mare is by Camiro De Haar Z out of Creevagh Harlequin Lady (Harlequin Du Carel). Reape took over the ride at the back end of last year and has gelled well with the mare in a short time with results up to 1.40m level.

Anthony O’Regan and Jack Moloney’s 12-year-old German-bred gelding Feedback also had one on the floor, albeit in a slower time of 41.51 for fourth place.

Jake Hunter returned to the line-up to take fifth place with Jonathan Reape and Cathal McMunn’s Incredible, when they came home carrying four faults in a time of 41.70 seconds. The Zavall VDL gelding was previously campaigned by Johanna Sixt.

Lee Carey opted for the more cautious approach with Kan Cruise but he also finished on four faults in a time of 46.39 for sixth place. Bred by John Carey and now owned by Leo Carey, the 10-year-old gelding is by Kannan and out of Ms Cruise (Cruising).

Gerard Clarke and Castleforbes Gillian, winnersof the seven-year-old HSI Studbook Series at Galway Equestrain \ Rolf Stenberg Jumpinaction.net

HSI Studbook Series

The opening round of the €200,000 HSI Studbook series took place in Galway Equestrian this weekend with 53 combinations competing in the five-year-old division, 40 in the six-year-olds and 27 in the seven-year-olds on Monday. In the five-year-old section, 37 combinations delivered double clears to share the €3,600 prize fund, while in the six-year-olds, 21 combinations maintained clean sheets. The series took place over one day only.

Seven-year-olds

In the seven-year-old section, €4,520 was up for grabs and eight combinations delivered double clears. Fastest of those was Gerard Clarke and Castleforbes Gillian in a time of 33.98. Owned and bred by Lady Georgina Forbes, the mare is by Kannan out of the great five-star Grand Prix-winning mare Castleforbes Libertina who won at the highest level with Jessica Kürten.

Tomas Doyle and Monbeg Ruby were less than a second slower in a time of 34.29. Owned and bred by Tomas’ wife Marti Rudd, the mare is by Diamant de Semilly out of the Boherdeal Clover-sired Ballycapple Mist which he jumped to 1.40m. Monbeg Ruby was selected for Lanakan as a five-year-old in 2021.

In third place was Shane Moloney and Galilee Des Flagues in 35.25. This French-bred mare is owned by John Hoyne and, bred M. Frederic Lavoinne, by Consul DL Vie V out a Quarnac Du Mesnil mare.

Not content with third place, Moloney also took fourth place with HHS Disney in 35.50. Owned by Helen O’Regan and John Hoyne and bred by Marion Hughes, the mare is by Diamant de Semilly out of HHS Fortuna (Heritage Fortunes).

Robert Splaine played it safe with his own Coolcorron Lachlan who was bred by John O’Sullivan out of Dickgrove Colleen who has no recorded pedigree and by the stallion Goodluck VDL. The pair were clear in 37.32 for fifth place.

Completing the top six line-up was Oisin Aylward and JM All For Luck (KEC Maximum Joe x Luidam), clear in 39.34. The gelding is owned by John Lawler and bred by Jimmy Lawler.