FLOODY LARKS AROUND IN RAVENSDALE

John Floody & Larkhill Cruiser

John Floody stole the limelight in the inaugural Ravensdale Lodge Grand Prix with a victory aboard Mick Smith’s Larkhill Cruiser.  On form after a two week break Floody finished his day in style when first to go in the €1,200 1.30m(S) class he set a time that remained unrivalled in the eight way decider.

The Co. Meath based rider was delighted with the result and praised the eight year old Irish bred Larkhill Cruiser. “He has always been consistent right the way through. He’s really competitive and I think he’s a top horse. He is the most consistent in the yard.”

Winning owner Mick Smith was on hand to watch the action unfold and was delighted. “He’s going really well on the back of qualifying for the RDS and is really finding his good form now. Floody’s doing a great job.”

Not just a successful day for Floody but also for Ravensdale Lodge. Set in picturesque surroundings, the equestrian centre hosted the opening leg of the Guidam Spring Tour earlier in the year and has been testing its two purpose built grass arenas with midweek shows.

Ravensdale Lodge’s first major outdoor venture proved to be a success with two hundred and sixty five horses competing.

Floody praised Ravensdale Lodge saying “It’s a fantastic location and setting. The arenas are good, the ground was good and Tom Holden built a fantastic course as usual, I think it’s a real venue for the future.”

Holden designed a challenging course for the thirty starters going to post with no one fence acting as a deciding factor in narrowing down the field. An early oxer with a spooky filler caused a number of riders to exit the arena with four faults to add while the combination as the last obstacle caught out its fair share of competitors.

Floody proved to have the advantage when going triple handed into the jump-off. Linda Courtney’s stables were well represented with both Courtney and stable jockey Ross Mulholland delivering fault free rounds.

 

A further three managed to negotiate Holden’s course without mishap resulting in an even eight through to the clocked round.

 

Linda Courtney & H Two

 

Floody set an unbeatable target with Larkhill Cruiser when clocking a scorching time of 35.20 with nothing to add. Bred by Brian McAuley, Larkhill Cruiser is by Cruising out of a Crosstown Dancer mare and the now eight year old gelding was bought by Smith as a foal in Goresbridge.

Larkhill Cruiser has proven to be a successful mount for Floody featuring consistently in the Irish Stud Book series and winning a class at last year’s World Breeding Championships at Lanaken. The pair have stepped up this year and scored a Guidam Grand Prix victory in Cavan.

Floody also finished in third aboard PMR Rehy Irish Allstar as the fastest four faulter when upping the ante the Meath based rider beat his own time and recorded 34.37. PMR Rehy Irish Allstar was on form featuring in the earlier 1.30m class as first in the ring he held the lead to the end. Floody also slotted PMR Caballero into third place in the 1.30m class and finished eventual sixth in the Grand Prix.

Floody was happy with the way they performed and how the partnerships are progressing saying “They are both moving up the grades and I think they are nearly ready for a Grand Prix. I hope to step up soon, they’re getting consistent.”

Ross Mulholland supplied the only other double clear to secure the blue rosette. Riding last year’s Boomerang winner Diamond Toby, Mulholland left all the poles in their cups in 41.32. Courtney proved out of luck when aiming for a steady clear with the eight year old Cavalier sired H Two the pair incurred a single error in a sedate time.

 

Edward Little put in a good effort with the eight year old mare Qualisca de Vansichant but faulted at the first part of the combination to finish in eventual fourth when the clock showed 40.03.

 

Young rider Robert Frazer lowered the first fence with the Dutch bred eleven year old Rolando but upped the pace to break the beams in a time of 41.92.  This proved sufficient for fifth place when Alexander Butler and Will Wimble finished on a tally of four nearly ten seconds in arrears.

 

Robert Frazer & Rolando

Delyth Collins triumphed over sixty seven rivals in the 1.20m with Creevagh Captain. A time of 28.45 saw the pair coming home nearly half a second inside the 29 second mark.

This offered a comfortable margin over nearest rivals Suzanne Posnett and Karmijn, who proved just off the mark in 29.21.

Long time leader Frank Curran who set the target to beat as second horse in the ring was relegated to third position in the line up with Mustard Again.

 

 

Delyth Collins & Creevagh Captain

 

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