JAG Equestrian (formerly Kildare International) is certainly proving to be a happy hunting ground for Tipperary’s Liam O’Meara, as he recorded his third Spring Tour win there last Sunday.

Riding his own Mr Coolcaum, the reigning Spring Tour champion not only took the win, but also filled the runner-up spot with Helen Sheridan’s gelding, Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh.

Mr Coolcaum, a 12-year-old gelding by Coolcaum Hill and out of Ranch Lady, has been a consistent charge for O’Meara, clocking her a series of impressive results at Grand Prix and Premier Series level, which included a third place finish at South County Premier Series. Just eight-years-old, the Jacomar-sired Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh (ISH) has proved very consistent in the young horse classes and at regional Grand Prix level. Among their results was a win in the RDS qualifier at Barnadown.

Good start

O’Meara said: “It was a good start to the season as both horses jumped really well. Mr Coolcaum has plenty of experience at this level and I knew that I could make up time in particular to the last oxer. Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh is also very careful and was up for the challenge, having moved up a level last year.

Gaffney has put on a great show and the new surface worked really well. The plan now is to continue to do some more rounds of the tour, but the aim will be the National Grand Prix league and the Premier Series.”

On duty course designer Tom Holden designed a fitting course for the first round which saw nine of the 44 starters proceed to the jump-off.

Second to go in the jump-off, O’Meara set the time to beat with Mr Coolcaum when clocking 34.08 seconds. Last to go, O’Meara returned with the eight-year-old Curraghgraigue Jack Take Fligh and with the class in hand lodged another clear in 34.81 for second place.

John Floody also had his eye on the red rosette and although he stayed within the 35-second barrier, a clear in 34.89 meant a third place finish for Ballyknock Diamond. Floody proved out of luck with his second mount Shenick, when crossing the line carrying four faults in a time of 35.53. Fastest of the four-faulters in 35.53 however meant a sixth place finish.

Christopher Connell more cautious approach with BVS Echo Island paid dividends as a clear in 39.70 saw him take fourth place, along with the leading young rider prize of the round.

Fifth place belonged to Conan Wright, when he kept all the poles in place in a time of 42.85 with Leathnorth Boom Boom.

Gerard Clarke also had an unlucky four faults with Kellswater Crimson, but their time of 41.22 saw them in the lineup as they finished in seventh place.

Vincent Byrne aired on the side of caution with his new mount, Sambuca Paris Diamond and four faults in 43.94 saw them claim eighth place.

The leading Pro Am rider in this round was Deirdre Doyle. Action in the HSI Connolly’s Red Mills Spring Tour continues at Cavan Equestrian on Sunday.