The Gain/Alltech Grand Prix league proved to be an exciting curtain closure for the Cavan Equestrian Indoor Championships last Sunday (27 Sept) as 68 combinations battled it out for the lion’s share of the €4,000 in the host sponsored class.

Leading the victory lap on this occasion was Mayo rider Michael G Duffy aboard Bocello. With a strong course and a tight time allowed putting the pressure on riders, just nine combinations booked their place over Klaus Holle jump-off course.

Going early in the class Eddie Moloney partnered Douglas Hill to the first clear, but they failed to maintain their clean record sheet when problems arose early in the jump-off course.

Ross Mulholland upped the pace when he delivered a clear with Ahmed Du Calvaire in 41.35 seconds, which would later prove good enough for eventual fifth. Max O’ Reilly Hyland also had his eye on the win as he took it on Dorado and although he delivered a clear, their time of 41.48 would later see them account for sixth place.

Event rider, Elizabeth Power proved that the time could be beaten with Doonaveeragh O when clocking 36.78, but it came at a price as she faulted once.

Also keen to make her presence felt, Sophie Dalm didn’t hang about with Remake Lande and a daring galloped home saw her take the lead when clocking 37.65. Despite a gallant attempt from the county Down rider, her lead was short lived as next in, Edward Butler riding Cornet’s Son shaved fractions of her time when clocking 37.09 seconds for eventual third, leaving Dalm to take fourth.

The penultimate rider in, Michael G Duffy took every tight line with Bocello. A extremely tight line to fence five and then back to the double saw them up on target, but it was the quick pace to the final oxer that saw them clock the winning time of 36.31 seconds.

Owned by Sandra Duffy, the nine-year-old heartbreaker Stallion Bocello has a series of good results of late. In June, the partnership had a sixth place finish in the Tom Hudson Derby at Hickstead. Duffy is no stranger to success himself having played a key part of the European Show Jumping team which won Team Gold at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in China last year. This year he was part of the bronze medal winning team at the European Championships.

The penultimate rider, Cormac Hanley knew what he needed to do with Captain Caruso. Despite a gallant attempt, they failed to catch Duffy and their time of 37.07 saw them take the runner up spot.

Tension mounted as the current league leader John Floody, picked up pace with last week’s winner Mise le Meas.  Despite the calculated pace, first faults at the double in in 47.62 saw him finish just outside the top six.