The GAIN/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix league got off to a good start, with little separating riders in the top five placings in the first round at Ravensdale Lodge last Sunday. Taking the lion’s share of the €3,000 on offer in the BeepBeep.ie-sponsored class was Dungannon native Frank Curran, aboard Hawkswings.

Owned by Susan Stewart, Hawkswings is an eight-year-old gelding by Heartbreaker and out of the Laughton’s Flight-sired mare Crewe Lass. Although he is a new mount for Curran, the pairing have gelled well and have being consistently placed at 1.30m level.

Ray Buchanan built a fair course, which saw seven of the 28 listed starters progress to the jump-off. First to go, Paddy O’Donnell set the bar high with Minority Report as he lodged a very fast clear in 38.58.

Despite a quick turn of pace, a clear in 40.38 saw Galway’s Sven Hadley and Quanbell slot in behind O’Donnell in the final line-up.

Next in, riding Desmond and Shane McFadden’s nine-year-old stallion Clinton Jack, Dermott Lennon set off in a calculated pace, but eight faults in a time of 41.07, only proved good enough for eventual sixth on this occasion.

Frank Curran’s daring gallop home nearly cost him as he rattled the last, but with all the poles remaining in their cups, a clear in 38.03 saw him take the win.

John Floody wasted no time with Mathew Birch’s Mise Le Meas and although he opted to gallop to the last, his time of 38.15 was enough to slot into second and put O’Donnell into third. Floody didn’t go home disappointed as he took the 1.30m class with Paul Carroll’s King Best when clear in 31.74 seconds.

Kenneth Graham provided the last double clear of the class aboard William Lapsley’s Orbiting, albeit in the slower time of 41.92 for eventual fifth.

Earlier Mark Murphy partnered Horseware Foxy to a win in the 1.20m, clear in 35.76, while Frank Curran slotted into second with Sweet Chilli, clear in 38.28.