British visitor Guy Goosen took first blood at the Cavan indoor international last night, scooping the Calor Gas jump-off class with Sagrat from a massive 23-horse jump-off.
The Warwickshire rider, who rode Sagrat to win both the Wembley and Olympia Puissance classes three years ago, had almost two seconds in hand over Stevie Macken and FAN Skyview, with Cameron Hanley just squeezing Reichsgraf in ahead of Stevie's father Eddie Macken and FAN Pascal.
In the earlier Kennedy Equine Centre speed stakes, Co Clare rider Joan Greene came off best from an 83-horse start list to win after setting an early target on the fizzy grey Abbey Duchess. Darragh Kerins and Ben Bulbin were more than two seconds in arrears for the runner-up spot ahead of Army rider Shane Carey on Galtee Beg.
Out at the pony international in Verona, Cork girl Sarah-Kate Quinlivan rode Clover Riot into second place in the opening class and all five Irish ponies are qualified for today's Grand Prix. The Irish have already won the Verona Nations Cup three times and bid for a fourth victory tomorrow.
Calor Gas jump-off - 1, Britain's Sagrat (Guy Goosen); 2, Ireland's FAN Skyview (Stevie Macken); 3, Ireland's Reichsgraf (Cameron Hanley); 4, Ireland's FAN Pascal (Eddie Macken); 5, Ireland's Cheyne Walk (Neil Turkington); 6, Britain's Grand Marnier (Richard Davenport).
Kennedy Equine Centre Speed - 1, Ireland's Abbey Duchess (Joan Greene); 2, Ireland's Ben Bulbin (Darragh Kerins); 3, Ireland's Galtee Beg (2nd Lt Shane Carey); 4, Ireland's Losjonas (Niall Talbot); 5, Sweden's Hot Line (Anna Danielsson); 6, Ireland's Cheyne Walk (Neil Turkington).
Basketball: ESB Superleague leaders Neptune held off a determined challenge from Kerry Spring Killarney for a 70-60 victory at their home stadium in Cork last night. New American signing Rasuel McKune was again instrumental in the Neptune victory to extend their lead to four points at the top of the table.
Denny Notre Dame staged a second half comeback to defeat Killester 89-78 at the National Basketball Arena.
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