Irish rider Denis Lynch’s victory in the Prix Ducati with his GC Bushi (Contendro II x Nairobi) has given him confidence ahead of the Rolex Grand Prix. Friday’s main class lived up to its promise with eleven high-profile finalists in the jump-off on the evergreen Arena Grandes Ecuries, which the riders particularly enjoy.
Olympic, European and world champions; they were all at the start in today’s big class. In the jump-off, there were only eleven riders left, including, good news, seven French. But at the end of the day, the fastest was Denis Lynch, the old Irish fox of the circuit, who is now able to leave Chantilly on the saddle… of a glamourous Ducati! With his faithful GC Chopin’s Bushi, he achieved one of the only two double clear rounds of the class, but, to the despair of the public, with sixty hundredths better than French rider Alexis Deroubaix, who until then held the lead with Kitona de Muze (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Tinka’s Boy).
Denis Lynch was already a fan of the Chantilly grass arena yet this new victory in the new environment of the Masters will only make him love it more: “Bushi is a fantastic horse, this result speaks for itself. He has won a lot before and now he is winning again. I am very delighted with this horse and especially today at this absolutely beautiful venue. Today he was on a great day and when he is like this, in great shape, he is an extraordinary horse. He really likes this footing, it’s a great arena, there’s a very nice atmosphere as often in France and we’re very, very lucky to be here.”
The jump-off seemed complicated with only two clear rounds out of eleven starters, nothing abnormal according to the Irishman: “I have never won a competition without touching a pole! (laughs) Today I touched one or two in the first round, but they stayed in place. It was a good day, but I promise you I’ve never won a Grand Prix or any other event without touching any fences. Today luck was on my side. As for this course, there was nothing specifically difficult about it, it was very fair, it wasn’t over big. The conditions were ideal with a very good grass surface, a supple ground where the horses feel confident.” Bushi certainly looked confident and with two days to go before the Rolex Grand Prix his rider seems optimistic: “Absolutely, this kind of victory always gives confidence to the horse and the rider”. To be continued on Sunday from 3.30 pm.
