Five-star Lou-Lou carries Lennon to victory
One of 11 to make the jump-off from a starting field of 45, he piloted Judith Sossick’s 14-year-old mare across the finish line clear and almost nine-tenths of a second faster than his nearest rival to pocket almost €51,000. The former world champion said Loughview Lou-Lou, who has provided him with many reasons to celebrate since he took up the reins five years ago, was due another notable day.
“I’m delighted, she jumped super. She’s still very good. She was a bit unlucky in the grand prix in Dublin, with one down, and she had one down in the jump-off a couple of days here, but overall she’s been jumping super and today was her day.
“She won the Olympia grand prix, so today was her second five star grand prix win, but she’s had many classes along the way. She’s so versatile. She’s a real fighter, tries hard and, while she’s not the most simple to ride, when I get her in the right frame of mind, she’s hard to beat.
“There are very few shows where she doesn’t find something. She’s definitely paid her way down through the years and there’s plenty left in her,” said Co Down rider Lennon, who added that the grand prix in Lausanne, Switzerland, in a fortnight was his next target.
Meath-based Cian O’Connor also made the jump-off yesterday with Good Luck and, while setting a time that would have put him third, the last fence proved his undoing and he had to settle for seventh place as the fastest of the four-faulters.
A single error kept Waterford’s Anthony Condon out of the timed round with Aristio, while Billy Twomey and Diaghilev posted 12 faults. Down native Conor Swail and the relatively youthful nine-year-old stallion Hetman of Colors picked up 23 faults.
Second place went to Egyptian Abdel Said aboard California, ahead of France’s Bernard Briand Chevalier and Qadillac du Heup.
