Allen third in Paris

Bertram Allen and Molly Malone V jumped one of just three first round clears in the €400,000 Hermes Grand Prix in the Grand Palais, Paris, on Sunday last.

Drawn first to go against the clock he dropped a late fence in a fast time of 39.20 seconds. Penelope Leprevost of France went clear in 41.44s but last to go, Australia’s Edwina Tops Alexander came home clear in 41.36s to take the €132,000 first prize on the Libero H mare California.

On the previous night Allen also stood third on Izzy by Picobello in the featured Accumulator.

Pony stallion parade

The first stallion parade of its kind, open to all pony stallions – Arab, Connemara, cob, thoroughbred, Welsh and part-bred stallions – will be held in Duffy’s Equestrian Centre, Claregalway, on Sunday, 9 April at 3pm. Each stallion will be required to walk and trot, loose jumping is available but not compulsory.

A fundraiser for the RDA, the entry fee is €50 per pony stallion. The closing date is Wednesday, 5 April.

Please send entries to Sharon Walsh, Pine View Pony Stud, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo. Please see Facebook page National Pony Stallion Parade or telephone Sharon at 087-465 0142 or Michael Flanagan at 086-368 0885. O’Connor double clear in California

Cian O’Connor finished third in the 1.50m AIG $1m Grand Prix, aboard Good Luck at the HITS Coachella show in California. Of the 54 starters, six riders jumped clear in the first-round. Drawn first to go in the second round, O’Connor stopped the clock in 43.90s. Victory went to USA’s Mandy Porter and Milano with a time of 41.60s. O’Connor will now aim for the $1m Grand Prix in Ocala next week with the 11-year-old Canturo-sired stallion.

Meanwhile at the Spanish Sunshine Tour in Vejer De La Frontera, Co Down’s Dermott Lennon and Judith Sossick’s Irish Sport Horse mare Loughview Lou-Lou also took third place on the podium in the four star Grand Prix.

A double clear round in a time of 42.75s saw them collect €15,000, with victory going to Britain’s Guy Williams riding Depardieu Van’t Kiezelhof (41.28s).