Aga Khan team members Denis Lynch and Bertram Allen along with Darragh Kenny delivered a host of good placings at the very competitive Global Champions meeting on the Chelsea Olympic grounds in London last weekend. Their success augurs well for this week’s Dublin Horse Show.

Between them, the trio had four podium finishes including a third by Lynch in the €300,000 Longines LGCT Grand Prix with All Star 5.

Lynch opened with a double clear for second on All Star 5 in Friday’s jump-off. The Tipperary man followed that with two more clears for the Global Champions League Miami Glory team that had him, Paris Sellon and Scott Brash win this 12th round of the series and climb to fifth in the overall rankings prior to Valkenswaard, Rome and the final in Doha.

UNDER PRESSURE

Meanwhile Bertram Allen was called upon to deliver a pressure clear on the stallion Hector Van d’Abdijhoeve to help Alberto Zorzi and Janica Sprunger to the runner-up slot in this round and back to top of the league for Valkenswaard United.

Darragh Kenny jumped a double clear for Paris Panthers on Team de Coquerie and Chanel.

All of this meant that all three Irish riders had qualified for the 24-starter Grand Prix on Saturday evening. Kenny and the nine-year-old mare Chanel by Challan ran into trouble on the final line and with 12 did not make the 11-horse jump-off.

But Allen riding Hector and Lynch with All Star did make it through.

jump-off

In the barrage Holland’s Harrie Smolders took the lead in a fast time of 39.48. That held until mid-way through, then Lynch and All Star 5 powered over the last in a time of 39.35.

Allen knocked the double to finish 11th.

It all came down to the last two in the draw to decide the top placings, home favourites Ben Maher and Scott Brash for Britain.

Second last to go, Maher and the Continio mare Madam X beat Lynch’s time with 38.68 for a new target. But the steady Brash was well up to the challenge.

Riding Hello Forever by For Pleasure he matched Maher stride for stride but with a superb effort to the last Brash was home to win by 0.06 of a second in a time of 38.62 for the €99,000 win.