Smart money on Broderick to win Jumping In The City
Broderick was installed as third favourite last week at 7/1, but he has shortened to 3/1 and it would be hard to argue with his assessment, considering MHS Automatic is in the habit of winning. Last Sunday, the chestnut gelding carried the Tipperary rider to a facile victory in the TRM/Horseware National Grand Prix at the Galway County Show.
However, Broderick said the sport frequently showed the folly of making prediction.
“On current form, we have a great chance, but with show jumping you are up one minute and down the next, so there is no point in getting too excited in this job. I won’t be getting carried away.
“The horse is in top form. He’s back from St Gallen where he won [and had a second and third place finish] and also won at Lummen and California earlier this year.
“It’s easy, though, to have a fence down. I discovered that at the Cork leg of Jumping In The City. In fact, I get reminders every week,” he joked.
He also noted that there were quite a few riders capable of defying Paddy Power’s odds.
“Bertram Allen and Cian O’Connor are worth watching, while Alexander Butler is one of the fastest riders in the country. Capt Michael Kelly’s horse has been in top form too and Dean Rogan won in Limerick, so he’ll be knocking on the door. It’s wide open.”
World number five Allen and Olympic bronze medallist O’Connor are joint second favourites, at 7/2, with former world champion Dermott Lennon next at 11/2.
- Kildare dressage rider Judy Reynolds set another Irish international grand prix record last Friday, when scoring 73.88% with the 13-year-old gelding Vancouver K to place fourth in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
This was her second Irish record in just under two months, the first coming in a grand prix kür in Hagen, Germany, where she earned 75.775%.
- Irish riders scored a one/two at the four-star show in Hickstead yesterday, with Richard Howley coming out tops against Michael Duffy.
Howley and Verlindo crossed the finish line over one-and-three-quarter seconds ahead of Duffy and Miss Untouchable in the speed class.
- Trevor Breen was second last to go in the grand prix at the four-star show at Bolesworth in Cheshire last Sunday with Martin and Paschal Coffey’s Oldtown KC and went into the lead, despite knocking the last fence.
He was one of four in the third-round jump-off and, considering British veteran John Whitaker and Keith Shore had left two on the ground, there was a chance Tipperary native Breen could maintain his position.
However, English 22-year-old Yazmin Pinchen and Van de Vivaldi proved unique in being flawless to claim the €24,500 winner’s prize, leaving Breen compensated to the tune of €15,000.
- Abbie Sweetnam also proved one-of-a-kind in the pony grand prix at Hagen, Germany, the Cork native producing the only double clear to take the top prize with Spartacus Reape.
The 14-year-old’s name indicates a show jumping pedigree, she being the niece of US-based Shane Sweetnam.
- Francis Connors extended his lead in the Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix League at Killeagh, Co Cork, last Sunday when notching up his fourth win of the season.
The Waterford rider had to be at his best with Hilda Anthony’s Uskerty Diamond Lady to beat Liam O’Meara, who, with Curraghgraigue Jack Take Flight, finished just 17 hundredths of a second slower in the jump-off, with the Nenagh-based rider also filling third place on Realt na Carraig.
Sunday’s Charleville Show will host the next legs of the series, before moving to Tallow next Thursday. The Co Waterford show will feature a full complement of horse and pony classes, beginning at 10am. Further information on the SJI bulletin, or call 0872455781 / 0876687549.
* Ireland’s pony eventing team manager Becky Cullen this week announced what she described as “a good solid squad” for the European Championships, noting it was “a mixture of experienced combinations and some upcoming talent”. The championships take place in Malmo, Sweden, on Aug 5-9.
Fionn Clarke (Black Velvet Band/Knockroe Little Mike), Lucy Hancock (Newtown Westie/Corries Whiskey), Cameron Kiernan Jnr (Bocade Slo Mo Shun), Zara Nelson (Millridge Buachaill Bui), Alex Power (Theo Jackson), Izzy Riley (Monarch of the Glen); 1st reserve: Maresa Ronan (My Rustic Clover), 2nd reserve: Isabel Persse (Mr Blueskies).
