DEFENDING champions Jonathan Smyth and Mulvin Lights Out threw down the gauntlet at the opening round of the Gain Alltech 1.40m National Grand Prix as they claimed victory at the Meadows EC last Sunday.

The pair galloped home with nothing to add in a time of 44.03 seconds to take home the winner’s share of the £4,000 on offer. A total of 29 combinations battled it out in the first round of the series and of those, eight booked their place against the clock.

Speaking afterwards, Smyth said: “I was delighted to have the win and it’s a nice way to start the season. Aaron McCusker built a fair course and getting eight into the jump-off is a good sign that the course designer got it right. I went first with Crystal Graf and it was a lovely clear round.

“I returned then with Mulvin Lights Out and because he has a good bit of experience, I knew I could push him on. We have been out in Europe at the start of the year and he was in the placings so he was ready for this challenge.

Regarding the jump-off course, he added: “There wasn’t really that much room to make up the time in the course and we all really followed the same lines. It was just that Mulvin Lights was faster across the ground. I did get the advantage of taking out one stride to the last.

“The plan is to compete Mulvin Lights Out and Crystal Graf at Grand Prix level and I also have a nice eight-year-old, Mulvin Cliodam that I may introduce to the level as the year goes on.”

Mulvin Lights Out was bought by Smyth’s father in Goresbridge and he is now co-owned by the Smyth’s and Roy Craig. He is an 11-year-old gelding by Kroongraaf out of the Diamond Serpent mare Diamond Vicky. The combination are no strangers to this type of pressure having last year claimed the title after they picked up points in seven of the rounds.

In the opening round last year, they finished in fourth place. They ended their 2022 season with a win in the 1.40m Bluegrass Grand Prix at the Autumn Championships at Portmore.

Angela Waras also kept all the poles in place with the Hugh Ward-owned Diamant De La Mer, but in a slower time of 44.74 for second place. Bred by his owner, the 10-year-old gelding is by Diamant De Semilly out of the Eurocommerce-sired Vuelta Du Ter.

Clem McMahon opted to take the safer route with Derry Kingston’s Athea Clover Trend and it paid off as they came home clear in 46.76 for third place. A new mount for McMahon, the 10-year old gelding, who was bred by John Joe Tierney, is by Future Trend out of Athea Clover Breeze (Clover Clon VII). He was previously campaigned by Paul Kingston up to 1.35m.

Jonathan Smyth returned to the line-up, claiming fourth place with Ann Doherty’s 10-year-old Crystal Graf (Lux Z x Graf Magna) when they were fractions behind McMahon in a time of 46.91. The horse was bred by Ann’s late husband Anthony.

Last of the double clears and slotting into fifth place was California native Savannah Marshall aboard her own Flambeau (by Carambole) in a time of 48.67. This combination has recently returned from Vilamoura where they competed in the CSI3*.

Returning from international duty where he was competing in Vejer de la Frontera, Dermott Lennon had his eye on a win as he took it on with the Irish Sport Horse MJM Pursuit. However, despite recording the fastest time of 43.99, four faults meant he had to contend with sixth place on this occasion. Owned by MJM (IOM) Holdings Limited, the 14-year-old mare is by Aldato out of the Limmerick-sired Mountain Mist.

1.30m Championship

Stephen Gibson led the victory lap in the 1.30m Championship when he partnered SGS Pride of the Hill to clear in 66.92. Annie Gibson and Hollywood KWPN clocked 67.54 for second, while Charlotte Coffey and Grenada K took third place in 67.65. Slotting into fourth place was Annie Gibson and Dasca Van Het Vijverbos, clear in 70.88, while in fifth was Shane O’Reilly and BWE Vain Of Diamant, clear in 72.41. Completing the top six was Rachel Chapman and OS Pouilly Fusse (72.61).

1.20m Championship

Winner of the 1.20m Championship was Emma Jackson and Kylestone Cashel when they came home with nothing to add in 26.48. Charlotte Harding was a fraction of a second behind with RJC Second Bet in 26.65. Sarah Moore took third with GSS Mircino, clear in 29.08, ahead of Savannah Marshall and Lemonade (29.44). Fifth place belonged to Samantha Kirk and FSS Indigo, clear in 30.19, while in sixth place was Lucy Hanna and Greannanstown Cougar (31.54).

1.10m Championship

Hannah Blakely and Lougherne Contessa emerged as the winners of the 1.10m Championship, when they galloped home clear in 24.23.

Emma Jackson and Kylestone Cashel also featured in this line-up, taking second when clear in 24.56. Third place belonged to Caitlin Jolly and Dalens Dream, clear in 26.35, while in fourth was Emma Jackson and Vanderbitt (26.58). Ava Stubbs accounted for fifth place with Tullyhill Lucy Diamond (26.60), ahead of Rachel McCaughey and Ardglen Stardust (30.13).