Saturday's feature class was the 1.40m Grand Prix class sponsored by Access Plant Hire, Monasterevin Motors and Doyle Meats and with a prize fund of €2,500 this was not going to be a tame warmup for the following days Super League Grand Prix and all 39 combinations went hard in the first round with 10 combinations making it through to the jump off.
First to go was Glen Leddy and Merljin - pictured below left - and he set the standard with a very neat and steady clear round stopping the clock at 34.51secs. Eddie Moloney and the big grey gelding Cantos B - pictured below right - were next to go but today was not to be their day at presentation when two fences fell leaving them with 8 faults in 40.61secs.
Robert Splaine and Clarion Hotels Coolcoran Cool Diamond - pictured below left - were next into the ring but they too did not knock Glen out of first at this stage as stumble into an oxer caused the rails to tumble and they stopped the clock at 39.53secs with four faults.
Olive Clarke and the very handsome black gelding, Spitfield - pictured below right - were next out to challenge Glen's position and they came close but not close enough stopping the clock at 34.84secs with all fences in place - but this was the first of two through to the jump off for Olive!
Richie Moloney was the next to take on Glen Leddy's result with Ballinclover Boy - pictured below left - and he succeeded when he stopped the clock at 30.70secs leaving all the poles where the Course Designer had put them and took the lead by a convincing 3.81secs.
Jack Doyle and Owen II - pictured below right - were next to go and they jumped a cracking round with all fences staying put and stopping the clock at 32,04secs slotting in, at this stage to 2nd position provisionally.
With four combinations to go nobody could count their winnings as all three riders and horses still left to go were more than capable of stealing the lead, and the inform Sarah Kate Quinlivan and Newmarket Girl - pictured below left - were next to go and nobody under estimated this combination and they again did not disappoint putting in an incredible round where the mare seemed to just jump higher the more Sarah Kate dared her at the fences and they stopped the clock at an incredible 29.70secs with all fences standing - this was going to be tough to beat!
Third last out - Edward Doyle and Effective - pictured below right - they came through the start flags and it was obvious to all that he was after the red rosette and money and his time was amazing but a run out half way round the jump off track cost him dearly leaving him with 3 faults in 42.53secs.
Two to go with clear jumping in ;less than 29.70secs being required to take the red rosette away from Sarah Kate Quinlivan - Dominic O'Halloran and Killosery Kruisette - pictured below left - but they were also victims of a run out which cost them dearly finishing with 3 faults in 50.37secs, but no doubt this new partnership will be in the winners circle as they get used to each other.
Last to go and the only one who could steal the victory from Sarah Kate Quinlivan, Olive Clarke and the very serious 8 year old horse Hands Free - pictured below right - and from the moment they entered the arena it was blatantly obvious to all that there would be no prisoners taken - Olive rode a text book jump off course, turning mid air and taking every turn made available by Course Designer Tom Holden and it all paid off when they came through the finish flags with all fences standing and the clock stopping at 29.37secs, shaving 0.33secs off Newmarket Girl.
The result saw the girls dominating with Olive Clarke in 1st place with Hands Free, Sarah Kate Quinlivan in 2nd spot with Newmarket Girl.
Richie Moloney and Ballinclover Boy placed 3rd, Jack Doyle and Owen II were in 4th and 5th place went to Glen Leddy and Merljin and Olive also took home 6th place money with Spitfield.
