NORTHERN riders dominated the Horse Sport Ireland/SJI Autumn Grand Prix last Sunday at the Portmore Winter Championships, claiming the first six slots in the €5,000 class. Tyrone’s Emily Turkington rode to victory aboard Jay Gatsby when she delivered the fastest of seven clears in 37.64 seconds.

Speaking after the win, Cookstown-based Turkington said: “Gatsby was class today. He has been in top three placings in 10/12 Irish Grands Prix in the past six months. He also competed in France with me and placed at Grand Prix level.

“He deserved his win today and is always very reliable. It was a fast class and Dermott Lennon had three in the jump-off with two coming after me so I knew I had to go very fast and Gatsby answered all the questions, especially taking one stride out to the last vertical!”

Jay Gatsby, who is owned and bred by Cormac McKay from Tyrone, is an 11-year-old gelding by Gatsby and is out of the Loughries Quiet Man-sired dam Tullydraw Lady. This pair have had much success at this level.

Among their recent results was a win in the 1.35m Grand Prix at Cavan in September, second in the 1.35m Championship in Balmoral as well as runner-up in the 1.35m the Grand Prix in Cavan back in August.

The third last round of the series saw 26 line out and from those 11 proceeded to the jump-off where seven delivered double clears.

Lennon runner-up

Winner of the round in Killossery with Millview Cicero, Dermott Lennon was back in the line-up, this time taking second place with Fanta M. The pair were less than a second behind the winner as they clocked 38.03 seconds.

It was a good outing for the combination overall as they also took victory in the 1.35m Mini Grand Prix on Saturday. Owned by Edmond Kearney and bred by Veehandel Musterd B.V, the 11-year-old gelding is by Cicero Z Van Paemel out of Saigon.

Young rider Niamh McEvoy added to her impressive record this season as she slotted into third place with Haifa OL when they clocked 39.63 seconds. Bred by Old Lodge Stud, the nine-year-old mare is by Nabab De Reve and out of a Damiro mare, and won the round in Cavan last month.

McEvoy was chased home by Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lights Out, who kept all the poles in place in 39.80 for eventual fourth. Owned by Noletta Smyth and Roy Craig, this nine-year-old gelding is by Luidam and out of Castleconnor Baron (Baron De Chantepie).

Harry Marshall put in a gallant attempt with his own seven-year-old gelding Daylight VHS Z (Douglas x Indorado) when clear in 40.60 which would only prove good enough for fifth place in the end.

Sixth place belonged to Edward Little and Heather Crawford’s home-bred HSC Sunny Jim (Pacino x Conquistador) when they delivered a clear in 40.85 seconds.

Last of the double clears was delivered by Edward Doyle and the Lisa Cawley-owned Flexability in a time of 40.94 for seventh place. Flexibility is a 10-year-old gelding by Flexible out of Diamond Ballerina (Diamond Lad).