Kilkenny’s Ger O’ Neill jumped to the top of the Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix leaderboard last Saturday (18th June) following his win at Galway County Show. Last to go in the jump-off with Eamonn Murphy’s Dondoctro Ryal K, he lodged the winning round of clear in 30.01 seconds to claim the winner’s share of €5,000 in the Walsh Heating and Plumbing Galway sponsored class.
The win now places O’Neill top of the leaderboard just ahead of Damien Griffin. This is the second Grand Prix win for this combination having also led the victory lap at Barnadown last month.
Dondoctro Ryal K is an eight-year-old stallion by Indoctro out of the Ahorn sired mare Toverfee S. The stallion has been produced by O’Neill from a four-year-old with much success both in the aged classes right up to Premier Series level. This year the combination’s results includes third place in the Grand Prix at Thomastown, fifth place in the Premier Series in Ballinasloe and fourth in the seven/eight year old RDS qualifier at Barnadown to name but a few.
Course designer Paul Duffy built a technical track for the 49 starters which saw seven combinations proceed to the jump-off. From these, just three double clears were delivered.
Captain Geoff Curran opted for the longer route with the ten-year-old mare Shannondale Rahona and it paid off as a clear in 38.03 saw him take the runner-up spot on this occasion.
Waterford rider Francis Connors also played it safe aboard Hilda Anthony’s nine-year-old mare, Lates Du Carel and a clear in 39.50 saw him account for third place in the line-up.
Winner of the round in Thomastown, Kilkenny rider Vincent Byrne was clearly looking for another win, but he proved out of luck when he faulted once with Mr Rockefeller. A fast time of 36.74 saw him slot into fourth place.
All eyes were on local rider Mark Duffy, but things didn’t go his way as he faulted once with Puesta De Sol and crossed the line in 41.47 seconds for eventual fifth place. Fellow Galway rider, Cormac Rafferty also faulted once with KMR Benzini, but a slower time of 45.15 saw him take sixth place.
On Sunday, the Horseware/TRM Premier Series was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix result from Galway County Show
Sponsored by Walsh Heating and Plumbing Galway
1st Dondoctro Ryal K/G.O'Neill 0/0/30.01
2nd Shannondale Rahona/Capt G. Curran 0/0/38.03
3rd Lates Du Carel/F. Connors 0/0/30.50
4th Mr Rockefeller/V. Byrne 0/4/36.74
5th Puesta De Sol/M. Duffy 0/4 41.47
6th KMR Benzini/ C. Rafferty 0/8 45.15