THE Minister for Defence’s Derrycush, ridden by Commandant Geoff Curran, captured the latest round of the Gain/Alltech 1.40m National Grand Prix league in Mullingar last Sunday.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Curran said: “I won the 1.40m class on a horse I think an awful lot of, Derrycush. He won a 1.35m class at the Nations Cup show in Bratislava earlier this year, and this was his first proper win on home soil and it certainly won’t be his last. He is a real competitive horse.

“We have had him since he was six and he’s nine now. We bought him from Clare Hughes. He was bred by Alfie Hillen. I always liked him and I think he’s going to win a lot of classes for us.

“The weather was a challenge at the weekend. The course designer (Eduard Petrovic) did a great job on all the Grand Prix classes, and the arena took all the rain very well.

“We are very privileged to have a show as good as Mullingar in the country and thankfully it was very well supported.”

A starting field of 63 was reduced to 13 for the decider. Curran’s time of 35.86 as fifth to go was the one to catch. Try as they may the only one who came close was Junior James Brennan riding his mother Sinead’s home-bred MHS I’m The One (Lancelot x Cavalier Royale) in 36.56 for second place.

Eddie Moloney and the Niall Greene-owned and bred Damma Kannan Supreme (Kannan x Camiro De Haar Z) finished third in 36.71.

Fourth place went to Keonan Stables’ Mary McCann-bred Clovalent (Valent x Cruising) with Nicole Kershaw aboard. Bear Bay Alessandro slotted into fifth for owner/rider Emma O’Dwyer, while Moloney and his second mount CSF Gabby Abbey (Kannan x Lancer III), bred by Shane Connelly and owned by Mark Williams, was sixth.

The next and 22nd round of the 25-round league takes place on August 26th at Killossery Lodge Stud.