Peter Smyth put his first points on the board in the Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix League with a win in the tenth leg at Omagh Show. Partnering the eight-year-old Touch Button, Smyth was one of only two clear rounds to secure the majority of the €5,000 purse sponsored by the Tyrone Farming Society.

Taking full advantage of a late draw, Smyth as the penultimate rider in the clocked round made easy work of then leading Kenneth Graham’s benchmark coming home with over four seconds to spare when stopping the clock in 43.44 seconds.

Owned and bred by Dorothea Wilson, Touch Button is by Gee Apollo out of the Touchdown-sired dam Touched. Produced through the age classes by Smyth, the gelding has shown promise all through his career. Having made the step up to Grand Prix level last year, Touch Button also qualified for the international seven and eight year old class at the Dublin Horse Show as well as featuring later in the year in the Eglinton Irish Masters.

Graham had set the original time to beat at 47.48 with another eight-year-old, the Simply Javelin sired Democrat. This pair have been active in the Ulster Region Summer Tour with numerous placings and Omagh’s result was an impressive 1.40m debut for the stallion.

Gerard Clarke was the quickest four faulter on the day to claim the yellow rosette. Riding the veteran campaigner Kellswater Crimson, Clarke recorded a very fast time of 39.31 with only the penultimate fence marring his round.

Angela Percy had aimed for a steady clear with the 12-year-old Timeless-sired Zowiezo but proved out of luck when faulting on the home stretch in 45.75. Vincent Byrne was the final rider to take on the jump-off and looked determined to dislodge Smyth but despite logging a time of 38.94 Byrne had to settle for fifth position in the line-up when lowering two fences with Mr. Rockefeller.

With only five combinations making it through to the clocked round sixth place went to Jenny Rankin and Baccarat as the fastest four faulter in the first round.
 
Horseware/TRM National Grand Prix League Omagh Show 1^st July 2016 result.
Sponsored by Tyrone Farming Society
 

1. Touch Button               Peter Smyth                 0/0/43.44
2. Democrat Kenneth      Graham                        0/0/47.48
3. Kellswater Crimson     Gerard Clarke Jnr        0/4/39.31
4. Zowiezo                       Angela Percy               0/4/45.75
5. Mr. Rockefeller            Vincent. Byrne             0/8/38.94
6. Baccarat                      Jenny Rankin              4/