Paddy O’Donnell claimed the fourth leg of the Gain/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix when victorious with Minority Report.

As one of only two double clear rounds, O’Donnell clinched the win in Saturday’s Leovet sponsored €2,000 feature class at the Wexford Equestrian Autumn Grand Prix Show.

Coming at the midway point of an eight horse decider O’Donnell threw down the gauntlet with a fault free round in a time of 32.53 seconds which would prove unbeatable.

O’Donnell commented, “It was a fantastic class today and it was great to win the Grand Prix. I’m delighted for Wexford Equestrian Centre that they were so well supported they do a great job here and run a great show.”

On the 14-year-old Minority Report O’Donnell said, “He has been a good servant to me. He is a former eventer, I sourced him as a four-year-old for Jo Rimmer and she sent him back to me last year. He has won four grand prix this season.”

O’Donnell and Minority Report have enjoyed a good season, active in the Munster Grand Prix league the pair triumphed in the legs in Killeagh District Gymkhana and Tallow as well as taking the victory in the Horse Sport Ireland Grand Prix at Munster Stadium Jumping back in June.

Young rider Jack Ryan took the runner-up position with Cavalier Teaca. Ryan set the time to beat at 33.11, but his lead was short lived with O’Donnell as the first to take on this standard. Ryan and the nine-year-old Glidawn Diamond-sired mare were a member of the squad that represented Ireland at this year’s Junior European Championships at Millstreet.

Neal Fearon proved fastest of the four faulters to secure third position in the line-up. Partnering the Luidam-sired Magic Cuidam, Fearon faulted at the penultimate obstacle in a time of 35.01.

Current National Grand Prix champion Vincent Byrne looked set to deliver a faultless performance with Caugherty but the final fence came down in 36.78 to see the pair take eventual fourth place.

John Floody had played pathfinder with Bronson de Reve but again a single error put the pair out of contention. Floody had stopped the clock at 37.39.

Michelle Desmond completed the line-up with Egona M. Aiming for a steady clear with the seven-year-old Berlin-sired mare, Desmond proved out of luck when lowering the penultimate oxer in a time of 43.56.
 
Gain/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix League Wexford EC 15th October 2016
Result
Sponsored by Leovet
 
1.     Minority Report          Paddy O’Donnell        0/0/32.53
2.     Cavalier Teaca          Jack Ryan                   0/0/33.11
3.     Magic Cuidam           Neal Fearon                0/4/35.01
4.     Caugherty                  Vincent Byrne             0/4/36.78
5.     Bronson de Reve      John Floody                0/4/37.39
6.     Egona M                    Michelle Desmond      0/4/43.56