Belgian Grand Prix win for Galway girl Jessica Burke – Irish feature in prizes around Europe and USA

Ireland’s Jessica Burke and The Irish Sport Horse Express Trend have taken victory in this weekend’s two-star Grand Prix at Sentower Park in Belgium. A large field of 57 starters went to post, with Gort-based Burke coming out on top after a 13-horse jump-off with Express Trend (ISH), who is owned and bred by Liam Nicholas. Britain’s Harry Charles finished second with Valkiry de Zance, just ahead of Morocco’s Abdelkebir Ouaddar and Istanbull V.H Ooievaarshof in third.

Irish riders also featured strongly in the two-star Grand Prix at Riesenbeck in Germany. Co Clare’s Eoin McMahon finished as runner-up with Chacon 2, just ahead of Mayo’s Jonathan Gordon who took third place with Dorotheental’s Classica. Victory went to Germany’s Marcus Ehning with Stargold.

Meanwhile at Oliva in Spain, Offaly’s Darragh Kenny finished as runner-up in the two-star Grand Prix. Kenny partnered Belo Horizonte to a double clear round and finished just a tenth of a second behind German winner Richard Vogel with Diego.

At Tønsberg Horse Show in Norway. Wexford’s Harry Allen finished third in the two-star Grand Prix with Pembroke, while across the Atlantic, Lorcan Gallagher and the Heathman Farm-owned gelding Idalville d’Esprit recorded a fifth place finish in the $73,000 two-star at Tryon in North Carolina, USA.

BREEDING
Express Trend (ISH) – 2010 gelding by Future Trend (OLD) out of Condios Express (ISH) by Condion (HOLST) bred and owned by Liam Nicholas ridden by Jessica Burke