The inaugural three-day Emerald International Irish Masters came to a close last Sunday evening with the €15,000 Irish Masters Grand Prix, where Co Meath’s Edward Butler grabbed the winner’s prize with the Angela Taggart-owned mare Caugherty.

Butler and the 12-year-old by Limmerick out of a Flagmount Diamond mare were the only combination to jump a double-clear round over the Tom Holden-designed course, with Canadian rider Rebecca McGoldrick finishing as runner-up with Cubra Libre.

Waterford’s Francis Connors and the Bobby Flynn-owned Hyperion grabbed third spot, while Alexander Butler finished fourth riding Will Wimble.

Young Horse Finals

Earlier in the day, the Bourns Sport Horses six-year-old final saw Cavan’s Neal Fearon take victory with the Peig Van Amerongen-owned mare Claricella (Clarimo X Con Air). Fearon had just under a tenth of a second to spare over runner-up Alexander Butler riding Dekato (Upgrade X Stakkato). Co Waterford’s Tholm Keane slotted into third with Future Storm (Future Trend x Cruising).

The Irish Masters seven-year-old final saw Edward Butler take the winner’s rosette with the Anne Clancy-owned mare CSF Whiterock Cruise (Cruising X Diamond Serpent), with Greg Broderick finishing as runner-up on Mary Ellen De Ruschi’s stallion Hitchcock Van Overis, who is by Darco out of a Corrado dam. Edward Butler also filled third place, this time with Harold McGahern’s Rincoola Rua (Diamant de Semilly x Cruising).

Saturday’s stars

The Saturday action at Emerald began with the CT PR & Event Management five-year-old final which saw a one-two for Co Waterford riders. Fenor’s Paddy O’Donnell claimed the winner’s prize when riding the mare Cillbhrid April (Lux Z X Crosstown Dancer) who is owned by Geraldine Power from Tramore, while Aglish-born Tholm Keane took runner-up spot with the James Buckley and Caroline Teltsch-owned BMH Big Time (Luidam X Cavalier Royale).

The Siblings Home Cooked Restaurant Naas-sponsored accumulator saw reigning Irish national champion Greg Broderick score a comprehensive win with MHS Automatic, a nine-year-old gelding by Quidam Junior out of a Diamond Serpant dam. They had over a second to spare over Edward Butler in second with Rincoola Rua, while British visitor Joe Whitaker finished third with Lola V.

Sixteen-year-old Christopher Megahey from Co Antrim won the puissance, clearing the wall at a height of 2.05m on the Britt Megahey-owned Cruise On gelding Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier.

The previous day, in the opening feature the Equestrian Surfaces Ireland Invitation Championship Grand Prix, a blistering fast round from Derry’s Daniel Coyle saw him scoop the red rosette. Edward Butler riding Caugherty finished just over a second slower to take runner-up spot, while Rebecca McGoldrick and Cubra Libre took third.