John Floody claimed the victory in the second round of the Gain/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix league at the Meadows EC. Having just missed out on pole positon in the previous week’s opener with Mise Le Meas, Floody ensured he was on top this time out when coming home with over two seconds in hand in the €3,000 feature class at the northern venue sponsored by Kelly Mechanical Dungannon.
The penultimate rider in a ten strong jump-off, Floody took full advantage of his late draw knowing exactly what routes to take to minimise his time in the ring. A daring approach on the final line saw Floody come home in an unbeatable time of 34.87 seconds aboard the eight-year-old son of Cruise On.
Jointly owned by breeder Michael Smith and Mathew Birch, Mise Le Meas has shown consistent form of late. Finishing third in the penultimate leg of the National Grand Prix League at Cavan EC, the eight-year-old took the runner-up position last weekend in Ravensdale Lodge before going on to triumph today (Saturday).
Floody commented, “I’ve always thought highly of Mise Le Meas and he has been showing good promise at this level.”
With last week’s winners Frank Curran and Hawkswings finishing just outside the top six, Floody now takes an early lead in the league heading into the next round at the Cavan Indoor Championships.
National Grand Prix League champion Darryl Walker continued his run of form when filling the next two places in the line-up. Putting down the original marker of a clear round in a time of 36.90 aboard Riverside Ace, Walker came home fractionally slower with the Flex-A-Bill-sired Cushions, across the line in 36.97.
Cormac Hanley, fresh home from a third place finish in the $250,000 Junior Grand Prix at Saugerties New York and part of this year’s silver medal winning team at the Junior European Championships, secured the green rosette. Riding the Captain Clover-sired stallion Captain Caruso, Hanley stopped the clock at 37.13.
Catherine Thornton ensured her place in line-up with a clear round on Lowhill Glenard Lad, completing in 38.80 while Patricia Stewart Greer set the cut off point for the top six as the only other rider on a zero score.
Gain/Alltech Autumn Grand Prix League The Meadows EC 19th September 2015 Full Result
Sponsored by Kelly Mechanical Dungannon
- John Floody Mise Le Meas 0/0 34.87
- Darryl Walker Riverside Ace 0/0 36.90
- Darryl Walker Cushions 0/0 36.97
- Cormac Hanley Captain Caruso 0/0 37.13
- Catherine Thornton Lowhill Glenard Lad 0/0 38.80
- Patricia Stewart Greer Rehab 0/0 44.74