SLIGO’s Richard Howley led a great result for Irish riders in the two-star Grand Prix at Sentower Park in Belgium.

Howley was riding Michael Whitaker’s nine-year-old stallion Arlo de Blondel, who is normally ridden by his son Jack, for the first time at the venue and they were one of five combinations to kept a clean sheet in the first round of the 1.45m class.

Howley was joined in the jump-off by Ireland’s Bertram Allen and Ger O’Neill, as well as Brazilian ace Marlon Zanotelli and Germany’s Marcus Ehning. His winning margin however was almost two seconds faster that runner-up Zanotelli when breaking the beam in 37.33 seconds to earn €6,250.

Allen guided the eight-year-old Go To Fortuna, owned by Ballywalter Farms, into third place with a clear round in 39.75 seconds, just ahead of O’Neill who was riding Home Farm Equestrian’s 10-year-old Warrior’s Glory in fourth. They produced the last of the double clear rounds in a time of 40.84.

Howley also secured three other wins last week. The first came in Thursday’s 1.35m seven-year-old class aboard Portfolio Horses LLC’s Spot On and he slotted into fourth place with Hera de Landette II, who is owned by the same stable.

Spot On went on to win Saturday’s seven-year-old class once again, before Hera de Landette II took the final victory in Sunday’s final. Harold Megahey slotted into fifth place in the final with Catania 137, owned by SHL Farm.

Thornton win

Louth’s Kevin Thornton won Friday’s 1.20m two-phase class aboard the 12-year-old mare Edeka’s Catyana, owned by Alexandra Ireland. The pair were the fastest of eight double clear rounds in a time of 30.18. Britian’s Tim Gredley filled the runner-up place aboard the Irish Sport Horse Unex Omega Star (0/0 31.78).

The following day, Thornton and Edeka’s Catyana finished fourth in the 1.20m jump-off class, just ahead of Jennifer Kuehnle and Quintha in fifth.

Kuehnle was runner-up in Saturday’s five and six-year-old jump-off class aboard Karl Brock’s six-year-old mare Sithara 3. The combination were double clear in 32.61 seconds behind Finland’s Elena Hietanen. Ireland’s Jack O’Donohue finished third with Iris (0/0 32.62), ahead of Jason Foley in fourth with Astrid’s Lad (0/0 32.64).

Bertram Allen and his new purchase, the six-year-old Irish Sport Horse Dawson’s Flex (Flexible x Kildalton Gold), bred by Victor Bennett, placed fourth in Friday’s young horse class with a clear round in 61.45 seconds.