Runner-up finish for Cian O’Connor in Rotterdam Grand Prix while Irish Sport Horses dominate Hickstead Derby

  • 25 June 2017, 17:22

A brilliant performance from Ireland’s Cian O’Connor and the stallion Good Luck saw them finish as runners-up in today’s €200,000 five-star Grand Prix at Rotterdam in The Netherlands.

One of eight combinations who made it through to the jump-off, O’Connor and the 11-year-old Good Luck produced a scorching fast second clear against the clock – stopping the clock in 40.46 seconds to take the lead when fourth to go. However Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and his Olympic silver medal winning horse, H&M All In, shaved three tenths of a second off the target when next to go and they would take the winners prize of €50,000. O’Connor collected €40,000 for his runner-up finish, which comes just a fortnight after he won the five-star Sopot Grand Prix in Poland with Good Luck.

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny also made it into the jump-off with Charly Chaplin S and they posted the fastest time of the competition (39.43). Agonizingly however, the very last fence fell to the floor dropping Kenny down to seventh place at the finish.

Irish Sport Horses dominate Hickstead Derby

Irish Sport Horses filled the top four places in the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby in the UK. Victory went to The Irish Sport Horse Golvers Hill (ISH), bred by Patrick Lynch from Co. Galway and ridden by Britain’s Nigel Coupe. They were one of just two combinations who jumped clear over the demanding Hickstead first round course and came out on top after a jump-off against Harriet Nuttall (GBR) and A Touch Imperious (ISH).

Co Down’s Dermott Lennon with Gelvins Touch (ISH) and Cork’s Billy Twomey (Diaghilev) were the highest placed Irish riders, sharing third place on 4 faults with Holly Smith (GBR) and the Irish-bred Quality Old Joker. Sligo’s Richard Howley also finished in the prizes, taking seventh pace with Chinook on an 8 fault score.

ISH BREEDING;
1st Golvers Hill (ISH) – 2003 gelding by Ricardo Z (ZANG) out of Hill of Clover (RID), by Clover Hill (ID). Breeder: Patrick Lynch, Co. Galway. Owner: Susan Simmons. Rider: Nigel Coupe (GBR)
2nd A Touch Imperious (ISH) – 2004 gelding by Touchdown (ISH) out of Cavimperius (ISH), by Cavalier Royale (HOLST). Bred by Leo Rice, Co. Monaghan. Owner: Rupert Nuttall. Rider Hariet Nuttall (GBR)
=3rd Quality Old Joker (ISH) – 2008 gelding by OBOS Quality 004 (OLD) out of Little Joker (WNTR), by Slyguff Joker VII (WNTR). Breeder: Roberta Dowley, Co. Kilkenny. Owner/Rider: Holly Smith (GBR)
=3rd Gelvins Touch (ISH) – 2006 grey gelding by Touchdown (ISH) out of Whitestown Diamond (ISH), by Diamond Lad (ID). Bred by John McCann, Co. Roscommon. Owner: Victoria Loane. Rider: Dermott Lennon (IRL)

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