Tipperary’s Liam O Meara landed the fourth round of the HSI/Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour at Wexford Equestrian Centre after a brilliant performance with his own gelding Mr Coolcaum.

O Meara had almost a second and a half to spare over his nearest challenger at the finish, giving him the lion’s share of the €2,500 on offer from sponsors Shires Equestrian Products.

Afterwards, a delighted Liam O Meara said: “I just kept up a good a rhythm and went a bit tighter around the course than everyone else. Mr Coolcaum (Coolcaum Hill x Indian Ruler) has a bit more experience than most of the others in the class and the way my horse jumped today it would really have been my fault if he didn’t win.

“He is an unbelievable horse and it is hard to believe he is still just a ten-year-old. People think he is older because he has been around a long time. He is the soundest horse you could have and I just hope he stays that way.

“He won his first Munster Grand Prix as a six-year-old and he has won Premier Series and National Grand Prixs already. I probably should sell him this year, but I am just not going to.”

Vincent Byrne came closest of all to the winner’s time. He produced an excellent clear round with Mr Rockefeller (Ard VDL Douglas x Kings Servant) to take runner up spot, while Sven Hadley took third place with Quanbell (Quentin x H2), just under a second slower than Vincent Byrne.

McEneaney Wins Fifth Round

The fifth round of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Spring Tour at Killossery Lodge Stud, Swords, Co Dublin, produced another thrilling encounter, with Co Armagh’s Conor McEneaney coming out on top with Peter McEneaney’s Moonlite Cavalier.

Speaking afterwards, 18-year-old Conor said: “I am really delighted. This is my first Grand Prix win. I tried to do enough to put some pressure on Daniel, who was last to jump.

“Moonlite Cavalier is a black stallion by Cavalier Royale out of a mare called Unbelieveable and he is just an eight-year-old. I have had him for a few years now and he has been going really well for me.

“I did some of the young rider classes with him over the past few years and he has now jumped four clear rounds in a row in the Spring Tour.”

Runner-up was Dubliner Zoe McElligott with a brilliant clear round riding the Tara Clover gelding Knockatee Lad, while James Hogg on Interpreter (Crusing x Diamond Rock) took third place.

Riders will travel to Portmore Equestrian Centre on Saturday for the sixth round of the series before the action heads to Claremorris Equestrian Centre on Sunday. Round eight of the series will see Balinamona Equestrian Centre just outside Waterford City hosting its first ever Spring Tour Grand Prix on St Patrick’s Day, next Monday.