THE National Grand Prix moved to Leinster region last Sunday as Barnadown Showjumping, Gorey, played host to The Underwriting Exchange National Grand Prix. Claiming victory on this occasion was Tholm Keane, riding BMH Big Time. In total, 61 combinations battled it out for the €4,000 Ballywalter Farm Stallions-sponsored class. Bred by Paula Abbey from Co Carlow and now owned by James Buckley and Caroline Teltsch, BMH Big Time is a 10-year-old stallion by Luidam out of the Cavalier-sired dam Magestic Cavalier. He is a full brother to BMH Showtime, campaigned by Edward Doyle up to Grand Prix Level.

Seamus Hughes Kennedy (YR) also kept all the poles in place with Louis D’Or, in a slower time of 40.38 for second place. The 15-year-old gelding is by Landcapitol out of a Grannus-sired mare Gina. This combination has got off to a good start this year, finishing fourth in the final of The Showjumpers Spring Tour at Warrington and qualifying for the RDS Young riders at Cavan just a few weeks ago. The gelding was the former ride of Paddy O’Donnell who had much success with him up to Grand Prix Level.

The mare’s full sister Luxs Curios, owned by Brian Murphy, was campaigned by Michael and Stephen Murphy with much success

Placed third in the Mervue Equine Leinster Tour, Stephen Murphy and Chantelle were back in the ribbons as they took another third place, clear in 40.50. Bred by Gerry Traynor, Chantelle is a 10-year-old mare by Lux Z out of Texaco’s Delphine. Traynor has had much success with this mare, breeding eight from her. The mare’s full sister Luxs Curios, owned by Brian Murphy, was campaigned by Michael and Stephen Murphy with much success. Another full sister, Birchwood Holly, has also been a big success for the Murphy family with a series of good results with his owner Patrick Murphy and Eoghan Murphy.

Place sixth in the Mervue Equine Leinster Tour, Kevin Gallagher and Flexibility picked up another rosette when they maintained a clean sheet, albeit in a slower time of 41.01 for eventual fourth. Accounting for fifth place was Tipperary rider Kerry McCahill and Vatson Sitte, clear in 41.65. This 14-year-old Belgian gelding is by Cardento out of the Contender-sired dam Casta Sitte Z. Completing the top six line-up was Edward Doyle riding Gina Prescott’s Billy Guilder, clear in 42.15.

Mervue equine 1.35M Leinster tour

Barnadown also played host to the opening round of the Mervue Equine Leinster Summer Tour. Taking the first win of the season in the 1.35m was Kevin Gallagher, who partnered Boleybawn Actor to a clear in 33.32. Bred by Ronan Rothwell and now owned by Gretchen Johnson, the eight-year-old gelding is by ARS Vivendi out of Air Jordan Z-sired dam Arina. He was previously campaigned by Darragh Ryan with much success in the aged classes and up to 1.30m. In 2017, he won a class in Dublin as a five-year-old and under the command of Ethen Ahern, also won the four-year-old class at the RDS. He also was part of the team which travelled to Lanaken in 2016 and 2017.

Leading the victory lap in the 1.20m division was Adam Carey riding Bob O’Keeffe’s Shanagore Lusty (Lux Z x Judy’s Gift), clear in 28.38 seconds. In the 1.10m, victory went to Kirsti Connole who galloped home aboard Zazu Van Terhofstede (Lupicor x Jana), clear in a time of 29.64.

ISH Studbrook Series

Barnadown has always proved to be a happy hunting ground for Kilkenny’s Jack Ryan and he struck again last Sunday with a win in the seven-year-old division of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook Showjumping Series. Riding BBS McGregor (ISH), he lodged the winning clear in 42.44 seconds.

BBS McGregor, who had previously won last year’s Breeders Classic in Barnadown, was one of only two double clears in the seven-year-old class.

Bred and owned by Jack’s mother Marguerite, the gelding is by Cardento out of a Mark Twain-sired mare Random Chance. This combination will be in action in Lanaken as part of the Irish squad.

In the five-year-old final, eight combinations jumped double clear to split the win, while in the six-year-olds, there were only seven clear rounds.