Bertram Allen and Molly Malone finish fourth in Barcelona Grand Prix

Wexford’s Bertram Allen and the grey mare Molly Malone have scored a fourth place finish in today’s (Sunday) Longines Cup of the City of Barcelona €150,000 Grand Prix in Spain.

Ten combinations made it through to the jump-off, with three carrying forward four faults, one on a time fault and Allen (pictured above) among six riders who jumped clear in the first round.

Irish riders had won the Barcelona Grand Prix for the past two years with Tipperary’s Denis Lynch (All Star) taking victory in 2015 and Offaly’s Darragh Kenny collecting the top prize in 2016 aboard Go Easy De Muze. Allen and Molly Malone were second-last to go in the jump-off but one fence down at the penultimate double saw their hopes of victory dashed. Their time of 49.43 seconds was the fastest of the jump-off and saw them take fourth overall and €15,000.

The winners prize of €50,000 went to Belgium’s Pieter Devos after a double clear round with Claire Z in a time of 50.66 – a second faster than French runner-up Kevin Staut with Silver Deux de Virton HDC. Canada’s Eric Lamaze took third place on the podium after finishing with two time faults with Chacco Kid.