Kernan’s Equestrian Centre is certainly proving to be happy hunting ground for Alexander Butler as he rode to victory in the Gain Horse Feeds/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix last Sunday. Riding Ladycastle Syndicate’s Vimminka, Butler clocked up his fourth Grand Prix win at the Crossmaglen venue.

“It was a great result and I was very pleased with how the mare performed. She started off very strong early in the year, but lost a bit of form for no particular reason. She seems to be back to herself and is jumping really well. She went well in Cavan last week but was just unlucky. I plan to do a few more legs of the league and, hopefully, clock up some more good results,” said Butler.

A 13-year-old mare by Nabab De Reve and out of Naminka, Vimminka has proved very competitive with Butler at the helm, both on the Grand Prix and Premier series circuit. The combination won the second round of the Jumping in the City series in Cork and finished second at the series final in Shelbourne.

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Course designer Tom Holden built a fair course, which saw 12 combinations progress to the timed round. Catherine Thornton put the pressure on early as she delivered a foot-perfect performance aboard David Campbell’s 10-year-old stallion Derryinver Luxury Cruise in 40.75, which later proved good enough for eventual fourth. The Fermanagh rider returned with Tom Jones and Martin Walsh’s Lowhill Glenard Lad and crossed the line almost a second faster in 40.08, good enough for third.

Speed merchant against the clock, Peter Smyth took it on with Walter Stewart’s Diamond Courage. Negotiating all the tight lines, he galloped home in 39.57 seconds to take the lead.

His lead held only temporarily as Butler’s tactical riding with Vimminka saw him stop the clock in 39.25 to take the winner’s rosette, demoting Smyth into second.

Winner of the second round in The Meadows, John Floody was keen to add more points to his tally. Going early with Bronson De Reve, Floody wasted no time, but four faults in 39.66 ruled him out of contention – he came sixth. Returning with Mise Le Meas, Floody was up on target, but an unlucky four faults in 39.66, saw him take fifth place. Floody added three points to his tally, which means that he holds the pole position on the leaderboard.