Talbot takes victory in Lisbon Grand Prix, Carey wins in Denmark

RELAND had two riders though to the jump-off in this evening’s Grand Prix at Lisbon, Portugal, with Kildare-born Niall Talbot finally taking the 10,000 euro trophy on the 12 year-old chestnut gelding Nicos de la Cense.

Swiss-based Talbot and Wexford’s 17 year-old rising star Bertram Allen, who was riding Billy Twomey’s Romanov, both went clear in the initial round, and first place would have gone to Allen’s faster time had he not dropped a single pole, relegating him to eighth overall.

After his first Grand Prix win of 2013, Talbot said: “I’m delighted with the horse, he’s been going well all week. He had a clear in the first round of the Nations’ Cup here on Friday and I was disappointed to have two down in my second round. It was his first time under floodlights, and that may have had something to do with it.

“But I had no complaints here today. When I walked the jump-off course I knew it was going to be a galloping track and that suits the horse. I knew that if I didn’t make any mistakes he wouldn’t either!”

French-bred Nicos de la Cense is owned jointly by the rider and Switzerland’s Jean-Claude Engisch.

Talbot also had a a win in Friday’s speed class at Lisbon, with his own 14 year-old Nabab de Reve stallion Wido, while Allen won Sunday morning’s Two Phase competition with the bay mare Wild Thing L, which is owned jointly by Billy Twomey and Ballywalter Farms.

Elsewhere, Limerick’s Shane Carey had a win in the two-star Grand Prix at Herlufmagle in Denmark aboard Jackie Bolger and Mel Sutelipp’s grey gelding Ballymore Eustace, with well over two seconds in hand against Spanish challenger Manuel Fernandes Saro and Elliot.