CO Down’s Conor Swail blazed to the runner-up position in last Sunday’s two-star €30,000 Grand Prix at the Spring Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva, Spain.

Normally in Wellington at the Winter Equestrian Festival at this stage of the season, Swail is remaining in Europe for the MET and he guided his own and Vanessa Mannix’ Domino van de Valhoeve (Lord Z x Concorde) to one of four double clear rounds to fill second place.

Thirty-nine riders started over Elio Travagliati’s track and seven of those made it around without any faults in the first round. Spanish rider Laura Roquet Puignero set the target in the jump-off when first to go with Sandi Puigroq in a time of 43.66 seconds.

Swail was third to go with the 10-year-old gelding and, always quick against the clock, shaved over four seconds off the time when breaking the beam in 39.40 seconds.

The Irishman looked like he had done enough to take the class but former world number one Scott Brash had other ideas and when last to go he posted a time of 38.75 seconds with Hello Mr President (Comme d’Api JR x Euro Equitation).

France’s Valentine Belooussoff finished third with Calou (Roven x Lauriston) who was formally owned and produced by Nicola FitzGibbon and Niall Talbot.