TREVOR Breen scored a podium finish with Golden Hawk in the three-star Grand Prix at the 2018 Horse of the Year Show at the NEC in Bermingham last Sunday, where he enjoyed a fantastic week when winning two finals.

British-based Breen borrowed the 13-year-old Vigo D Arsouilles-sired stallion from his older brother Shane, who was on Irish team duty at the Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona, and the combination hit it off straight away with a third place finish in the 1.60m class.

Breen was one of nine clears in the first round and reproduced that performance against the clock in a time of 41.57 to secure £6,000. Victory went to Belgium’s Karel Cox and Evert (0/0 38.23), ahead of the 2017 champion Nigel Coupe with the Irish Sport Horse Golvers Hill (0/0 40.43).

Breen maintained his 100% record in Wednesday’s Talent Seekers, incorporating the seven-year-old Championship. Once again, his victory came aboard a catch ride – Tracy Priest’s Diamants Aurora, who he only sat on 36 hours beforehand.

The eight-year-old Dirado-sired mare, normally ridden by Priest who was on FEI TV commentary duty in Barcelona, won in style after only three combinations from 25 starters made it through to the jump-off. Breen triumphed in a time of 32.36 seconds.

Speaking afterwards, Breen said: “Tracy rang me on Monday and said she was going to Barcelona for the week so asked me to take the ride. I didn’t ask too many questions, and said ‘yes, of course’. She brought her to my place on Tuesday morning, I gave the horse a few jumps and now I am here!

“I said to Tracy jokingly that the horse had better keep my 100% record! She’s a lovely mare.” Breen previously won the class in 2011, 2014 and 2015.

Completing a brilliant double, Breen and Diamants Aurora won Saturday’s British Horse Feeds Speedi-Beet Grade C Championship.

Sligo’s Richard Howley completed two runner-up finishes, first in Friday’s 1.55m aboard Chinook and later in Sunday’s 1.45m two-phase with Electra B. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch was also in action at the Bermingham venue and he placed second in Saturday’s 1.45m jump-off aboard Caruso 602.