Liam O’ Meara put his first points on the Grand Prix league table last Sunday as he took the honours in the Horseware/TRM Grand Prix at the fourth round in Cavan Equestrian Centre. Riding Mr Coolcaum, he took the lion’s share of €5,000 prize fund on offer in the Cavan Equestrian Centre sponsored class. Not content with the win, the Tipperary rider also took sixth place with Helen Sheridan’s Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh.
O'Meara said “I am delighted with how both horses jumped. This was my second grand prix of the year so it was nice to have the win early in the season. I have Mr Coolcaum since he was three and has been a very loyal servant for me. He was my first grand prix horse and he was very forgiving in the early days when I started off. I was also pleased with Jack Take Fligh as he is still only eight and handled the track very well. Regarding the course he added; “It all just came up right for me. I got a good turn back to the second fence and then to the double of verticals”.
Owned by O'Meara, Mr Coolcaum is a 12-year-old gelding by Coolcaum Hill out of Ranch Lady. This combination has proved very consistent with a series of good results on the national circuit up to Premier Series level. Amongst their wins was a third place finish in the Premier Series at South County Dublin and second in the Grand Prix at Ballinasloe.
Once again it was another good turnout with 42 combinations going to post. On duty, course designer Stuart Clarke designed a fair track, which saw 12 book their place over the raised jump-off course.
Fourth to go in the timed-round, Liam O’ Meara set the bar high when he lodged a clear with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh 42.63, which would later prove good enough for sixth place. O'Meara returned towards the end of the class with Mr Coolcaum and with a win in mind he stopped the clock with nothing to add in 38.98 seconds.
Keen to record a home win, Mervyn Clarke wasted no time with the nine-year-old stallion, Aramis 573. Despite a gallant attempt, a clear in 39.79 meant that he had to settle for second place on this occasion. A new mount for Clarke, Aramis 573 was previously campaigned by Cian O'Connor with much success.
Placed in fifth with Billy On Time at Barnadown, Neal Fearon added valuable points to his leaderboard when he delivered a clear with Ivor Broderick’s nine-year-old KMS Clintland for third.
Another new combination on the circuit having made their debut at Louth County show, Jenny Rankin slotted into fourth place when she crossed the line with nothing to add with Baccarat in 40.92. Mullingar rider, Roisin Fagan and Ikan were fractions behind in 41.17 for fifth place.
Horseware/TRM National GP result from Cavan Equestrian Centre result:
Sponsored by: Cavan Equestrian Centre
1st Mr Coolcaum/Liam O’Meara 0/0/37.12
2nd Aramis 573/Mervyn Clarke Jnr 0/0/39.79
3rd KMS Clintland/Neal Fearon 0/0/39.79
4th Baccarat/Jenny Rankin 0/0/40.92
5th Ikan/ Roisin Fagan 0/0/41.17
6th Curraghgraigue Jack The Flight/Liam O’Meara 0/0/42.63
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