MISS Paris and Susan Fitzpatrick won the €20,000 Underwriting Exchange/SJI Premier Grand Prix at Tattersalls on Wednesday afternoon.

Bred by German Gestüt Lewitz, the nine-year-old mare is by Messenger out of Paspertina, by Eurocommerce Berlin, and is owned by Manny O’Hara.

Lewitz is considered to be one of the best breeders of show jumpers in the world. He has produced over 460 horses which have gone on to compete at international level including prolific winner Caspar 232 (by Berlin).

Speaking after the win, Fitzpatrick told The Irish Field: “We are delighted with her. She’s been knocking on the door for the last while so it’s great to get the win here.

“I began riding her at the end of her seven-year-old year. Manny got in touch with us, she wanted us to take on a younger horse she had and she needed someone to take over Paris, because Sean (Monaghan) had gone back to school so it worked out.

“I’ve been working with her for about a year and a half now producing her on and this year she has been really consistent. She’s been placed in numerous 1.50m (Maubeuge CSI3*, Balmoral and Vejer de la Frontera CSI4*) and was placed in the 1.55m three-star Grand Prix in San Tropez a couple of weeks ago.

“She lands and turns very well. She’s very easy that way. She’s not the quickest horse but she has a very big stride, so all you have to do is keep her going forward and just follow her around.

“Tatts did a great job yesterday. Unfortunately, the practice rings didn’t hold up great, but the arena was really, really good and all the horses jumped very confidently on it.

“Unfortunately I didn’t get enough points through the Premier Series to get into Dublin with her. I was away and then there were so many in the jump-off in Balmoral that I didn’t get any points there.

“I’ll aim her for the next Premier in Mullingar and then give her a break; she’s had a really long year so that’s my immediate plan with her.

“I have two for the seven and eight-year-old international class in Dublin, they are two very special horses so hopefully they will have a good week. I’m really looking forward to that,” Fitzpatrick added.

Competitive action

Some 28 combinations lined out to take on the Tom Holden-designed track, of these just seven produced a clear first round to progress to the jump-off.

David Campbell’s Derryinver Truffle (Tornesch x Cruising) bred by Tom and Linda Magee and ridden by Luke Campbell, were pathfinders, two fences on the ground left them in sixth place.

Jonathan Smyth riding Mulvin Lui (Luidam x Baron De Chantepie) returned the first double clear in a time of 44 seconds which would be good enough for third place. Madeline Roberts Allen and her own German-bred mare Celah Sue De Rialfo Z (Coupe De Coeur x Caletto III) had one fence down in 45.61 for fifth.

Dermott Lennon and his own Harry Marshall-bred Millview Cicero (Cicero Z Van P x Oklund) posted a clear in 42.54 which would see them take the runner-up spot.

Comdt. Geoff Curran and the Minister For Defence’s Glengarra Wood (Capitalist x Cavalier Clover Lad) had a single fence down as the penultimate pair in and finished in fourth.

As last to go, Fitzpatrick guided Miss Paris to the only other clear of the class and secured the victory.

Jonathan Smyth’s third with Mulvin Lui gave the pair seven points which put them in second place in the series table and gave them a place at the internationals in the RDS.

The other ticket into the internationals at the five-star show went to Kevin Gallagher who finished in first place with 18 points after a win at Barnadown and a second place at Balmoral.