Allen third in Rolex Grand Prix

SWISS world number two Martin Fuchs won back-to-back Rolex Grands Prix in Dinard, France last Sunday, where World Championships-bound Bertram Allen finished on the podium in third place.

The €500,000 Grand Prix attracted some of the best horses in the world in a final prep run before Herning next week and just five of the starting 42 produced a clear in the first round. Shane Sweetnam and the exciting nine-year-old Patrick Connolly-bred ISH James Kann Cruz (Kannan) were clear over the jumps but picked up a time fault to finish sixth.

In the jump-off, Frenchman Julien Epaillard was first to go with Gracieux du Pachis and he set the standard with a clear in 41.46 second. Allen followed with Aiden McGrory’s Pacino Amiro (Pacino x NC Amiro), who was bred by Simon Scott, and the pair finished with a fence down in 44.66 seconds which, when the next two jumped, would be good enough for eventual third place.

Last to go, Fuchs had victory on his mind once again and with Leone Jei, the horse he will ride at next week’s FEI World Championships, he set sail and a fley to the last oxer saw them break the beams in 40.94 seconds to claim the top prize of €125,000. Allen earned €75,000 for third.

Conor Swail won Thursday’s 1.45m class at the five-star show. He guided Mannon Farm’s nine-year-old stallion Nadal Hero & DB to the fastest of 14 clears to win €6,375. Shane Sweetnam finished sixth with Alejandro.