Irish pair prove hot stuff
Before near-capacity crowds, the team-mates in today's nations cup led a procession of Irish riders in the Power and Speed and the Speed Derby competitions.
In the former, Corkman Billy Twomey, riding Anastasia, had a full second to spare over Harry Marshall on the Cavalier gelding Splendido. The Armagh man had set the early pace in a competition that drew riders from 10 countries.
But Twomey, sixth last to go, produced a textbook round on the nine-year-old Oldenburg mare to claim victory.
For good measure, Ireland also finished third, fourth and fifth with Marion Hughes (LB Galileo), Lt Shane Carey (Kilossery) and Clement McMahon (Hermes De Reve), respectively.
Cian O'Connor was in a class of his own in the Speed Derby, claiming victory by almost three-seconds.
The Kildare rider, boosted by a vociferous fanbase, powered around with the nine-year-old bay mare ABC Landliebe to take the €5,400 top prize.
In doing so, he denied Conor Swail his second win in as many days at the RDS with the Cruising mare Windgates Mystique.
Lieutenant David O'Brien completed the Irish whitewash when third on the Clover Hill mare Lismore Clover.
The double victories gave credence to the view that Ireland are hot favourites to win today's Aga Khan trophy.
Twomey, riding Luidam, and O'Connor with Waterford Crystal, will join Kevin Babington (Carling King) and Robert Splaine (Coolcorron Cool Diamond) in today's feature.
Ireland, with 36.5 points, are just 0.5 points adrift of France at the top of the Samsung Super League.
HARRY MARSHALL gave himself some breathing space at the top of the Kerrygold Grand Prix League, placing fourth in Monday's €10,000 competition at Dun Laoghaire Horse Show.
The third grand prix of the Bank Holiday weekend saw Marshall substituting Romance with Splendido. A refusal in the five-rider second round ended his chance of victory, but three faults was enough to see him finish fourth and extend his lead at the top of the table. The northerner now boasts 74 points extending his three-point lead to nine with Peter Smyth joined in second place on 65 by James Kernan.
Victory at Dun Laoghaire before a large crowd went to Steven Smith. Riding Laraghlease Western Desert, he netted €3,000, with Andrew Dunlop and Cruz Forever narrowly beaten. Danielle Quinlivan and Billy Daly's Newmarket Girl placed third.
Lieutenant David O'Brien placed fifth with Boherdeal Clover which, coupled with his win in Sunday's South County Dublin Show at Celbridge, catapulted him to fourth in the league on 54 points.
O'Brien's win in the €10,000 Edward Cawley Furniture- sponsored Super League Grand Prix, with the only double clear, came aboard the 14-year-old bay gelding Carraig Dubh, in what was the second of a two-day grand prix double-header at the venue.
"It was fantastic competition on a fantastic horse. What more can I say?" he said. In winning, he denied Marion Hughes a weekend double. Riding LB Galileo, she proved best of the four faulters to finish runner-up to Lt O'Brien, with James Kernan third on Idle Wilde.
But in Saturday's South County Dublin Show opener, Hughes was the dominant force. Riding Oh Jessie, she came home one-tenth of a second ahead of Eddie Moloney and Kilmoylan Warrior.
For good measure, she also placed third with LB Gallileo.
IRISH international dressage rider Anna Merveldt-Steffens has withdrawn her top horse Fosbury from the Irish team due to compete at the European Dressage Championships in Hickstead next week.
With the 16-year-old Westphalian gelding suffering from an allergy, Merveldt-Steffens will now compete in Hickstead with the 10-year-old Hera III.
This mare had a good result at the Fritzens CDI*** in Austria last month when seventh in the Grand Prix Speciale in her first outing at this level.
