Another Krafty win for Keane in Limerick

Tholm Keane kept the pressure on leader Francis Connors when winning the latest leg of the season-long Boswell Grand Prix League at Limerick Race Course on Sunday afternoon.

With just four more rounds of the series remaining, the race for the 2007 Boswell title has very definitely come down to a two-way battle between the Waterford men, and today Keane crept just a little closer to Connors whose dominance of the sport at national level has already made him something of a legend.

James Tarrant's first-round track suited 15 of the 26 starters hoping to claim the lion's share of the €4,500 in the Equimax-sponsored competition, and Denis Coakley set the pace in the jump-off with a clear from Linda Russell's Canaris 35 in 52.32 seconds. 

However, that was never going to be fast enough as Greg Broderick showed when, next into the ring, he steered Pikolino home almost two seconds quicker.

Connors was double-handed and re-set the target when crossing the line with the first of his two through to the decider, Francis Mangan's Auto Cruise breaking the beam in 42.37.  But then Keane set off with Krafty Jack and, taking all the chances, scorched around to stop the clock in 41.25. 

During a really impressive summer season Keane has shown superb form, claiming maximum points with Krafty Jack at Ballinamona in June and with Redmills Warrenstown You 2 in Millstreet nine days ago. 

With the latter he was the penultimate rider into the arena today but, although clear, his time of 47.19 seconds was never going to challenge his own lead so now only Connors could de-throne him when last to go. 

And with the brilliant Merlin's Magic Connors gave it a great try but had to settle for second spot with the Highfort Stud 10-year-old while also claiming third with Auto Cruz.

This result leaves a 10-point gap between Connors at the top of the leaderboard and Keane in second place and as the series moves on to Cavan and Barnadown in Wexford next weekend and to Iverk show in Kilkenny the following week there is still time for 32 year old Keane to narrow that margin ahead of the final at Boswell Equestrian in Ashford, Co Wicklow on 9 September.

The 2007 Boswell title would be the perfect wedding gift for 32-year-old Keane who will marry his fiancée Hilda Howard just two weeks after the series finale takes place, but ousting Connors from the head of the league table will never be easy.

SHOW JUMPING RESULT - BOSWELL EQUESTRIAN NATIONAL GRAND PRIX SERIES

RESULT:  BOSWELL EQUESTRIAN 1.40 GRAND PRIX
Sunday August 26, 2007
Venue:    Limerick Race Course
Sponsor:  Equimax
Prize Money: 4,500 euro

1)  Krafty Jack (Owner: Ronan Tynan) Tholm Keane 0/0 41.25
2)  Merlin's Magic (Owner: Highfort Stud) Francis Connors 0/0 42.37
3)  Auto Cruz (Owner: Francis Mangan) Francis Connors 0/0 42.47
4)  Always Cullohill (Owner: James Costigan) Trevor Breen 0/0 43.85
5)  Pikolino (Owner: Austin Broderick) Greg Broderick 0/0 45.68
6)  Redmills Warrenstown You 2 (Owner: Ronan Tynan) 0/0 47.19

26 starters, 15 through to jump-off

BOSWELL EQUESTRIAN  GRAND PRIX SERIES STANDINGS
after LIMERICK SHOW  Grand Prix
Sunday August 26, 2007

1) Francis Connors -95
2) Tholm Keane -85
3) Greg Broderick -48
4) Trevor Breen -40
5) Clem McMahon -39
6) Darragh Kenny -37
7) Brendan Ryan -31
Eq. 8) Conor Swail/ Cian O'Connor -30
10) Capt Shane Carey -28