Comdt. Geoff Curran was certainly on a roll this weekend as he went on to clinch victory in the GAIN Alltech National Grand Prix on Sunday after winning the SJI Premier Series the day before. This time riding Derrycush, Curran lodged the winning round of clear in 35.86 to take home the winner’s share of the €5,000 in the Plus Vital sponsored round.
Owned by the Minister of Defence, the nine-year-old gelding was bred by Alfie Hillen and is by Emerald Van't Ruytershof and is out of the Aldato sired dam, SHD Caldato. The combination have only recently returned from a stint on European soil, taking in Kronenberg CSI1* in May before moving on to Bratislava CSI1*.At the end of June they competed in Maubeuge CSI3* and claimed second place in a 1.40m class. It was another well supported round, with a total of 63 going to post. From the original starters, 17 booked their place against the clock and from those eight delivered double clears.
Junior rider James Brennan came closest to catching the winner aboard Mhs Im The One, leaving all the poles in place in a time of 36.56. Bred by Thomas Brennan and owned by Sinead Brennan, the nine-year-old gelding is by Lancelot and is out of the Cavalier Royal sired dam, Cavalier Kells Lady.
Fellow Kilkenny rider Eddie Moloney was only fractions behind with Damma Kannan Supreme, crossing the line in 36.71 for third place. Bred by his owner, Niall Greene, this nine-year-old gelding is by Kannan and out of the Camiro De Haar Z sired dam, Tonagh Trip The Lights. This combination has been on form of late, taking second place in the 1.35m Grand Prix in HHS Stud. The also took the win in the 1.35m Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour in Coilog and before this took the win in the 1.35 in Wexford Equestrian.
Slotting into fourth place was Nicole Kershaw and Clovalent when they came home clear in 37.55. Owned by Keonan stables and bred by Mary McCann, this nine-year-old mare is by Valent and is out of the Cruising sired dam, Cruising May Clover.
Placed sixth in the round at Tattersalls, Emma O’ Dwyer featured in this line-up, taking fifth place with her own Bear Bay Alessandro, clear in 39.39. This 12-year-old gelding is by First Fighter and out of the Pyrrhus sired dam, Broby Celebrian.
Eddie Moloney took another share of the prize fund, when he filled sixth place with CSF Gabby Abbey, clear in 40.86. Owned by Mark Williams and bred by Shane Connelly, the ten-year-old is by Kannan and is out of the Lancer III sired dam, Friedas Ramona. The other two double clears were delivered by Francis Connors and Carrigshawn Vendi Royal (8 YO) in 42.12, while Nicloe Kershaw and the eight year-old Fury came home in 46.91.