With less than a week to go before the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, South County Dublin Show provided Dermott Lennon with the perfect warm up before he takes to the international ring in Dublin.
Riding the ten-year-old Lux sired gelding, Corbeagh Luxor took the honours in the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix last Saturday (1st August). This is the second victory that Lennon has posted in this series, having won the round in Ravensdale with Vampire.
Speaking after the win; Lennon said “ I had seen a couple go and they were fast. I knew that the more competitive riders were to follow so I had to go for it. The horse is not that experienced against the clock but he made up time in the long runs. Thankfully it paid off for me today”.
Sponsored by the Friends of South County and Punchestown Racecourse, this round attracted one of the biggest entries to date, with a start list of 68 combinations.
On duty, international course designer Tom Holden built a fair course which resulted in 14 combinations maintaining clean sheets in the first round.
Double handed in the timed round, Darryl Walker went early with Ringwood Construction’s Riverside Ace. Walker’s decision to play it safe paid off as he lodged the first double clear of the class in 49.56, which saw him take eventual fifth.
Walker's lead was short-lived however as Dermott Lennon and Corbeagh Luxor, lowered the target to 45.12 seconds, which later proved unbeatable.
Vinny Byrne had the advantage of going after Lennon in the jump-off, but despite this a clear with Mr Rockefeller,in 46.45 proved only good enough for runner-up spot.
Returning with Manuela Martinelli Cushions, Walker knew the route to take in a bid to retake the lead. However, despite setting off strong and taking all the tight turns a clear in 46.55 meant that he finished just behind Byrne in the placings. This is an important result for Walker as it means that he sits on top of the overall leader board with three rounds remaining.
Cian O'Connor's student, Lillie Keenan also kept all the poles in place with Chansonette Farms Mercury, but in a slower time of 48.71, which saw her take fourth place. A well-known junior rider in America, Keenan began training with Cian O'Connor in May. She will remain under O'Connor's guidance until she commences her college studies in Harvard next month. Her horses will remain in Karlswood until the start of the Winter Festival in Florida.
Going early in the class with Kellswater Crimson, Gerard Clarke had his eye on the win, but he proved out of luck when faulting at the penultimate skinny. A fast time of 45.03 meant he was quickest of the faulters and as a result took sixth place in the line-up.
TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix South County 1st Aug Result
Sponsored by: The Friends of South County and Punchestown Racecourse
1st Corbeagh Luxor/D.Lennon 0/0 45.12
2nd Mr Rockefeller/V.Byrne 0/0 46.45
3rd Cushions/D.Walker 0/0 46.55
4th Mercury/L.Keenan 0/0 48.71
5th Riverside Ace/D.Walker 0/0 49.56
6th Kellswater Crimson/G.Clarke 0/4 45.03
16 through to jump off two withdrawn, 14 jumped second phase.
Photo by Laurence Dunne copyright jumpinaction.net 2015. All rights reserved.