DYLAN Daly (26) from Tralee had a great day on Sunday at Wellington’s three-star show in the USA, when he rode Cinderella Z, owned by Double C Stables, to victory in the $146,000 Flagler Insurance CSI3* Grand Prix.

Of the 39 starters, only four made it into the jump-off, where Daly rode a clear round in 39.79 seconds to take the top prize, with American Peter Lutz on Hollerno runner-up. There was another podium position for Ireland, when Limerick’s Paul O’Shea also made it into the second round and finished third with Oilily Van ‘T Eigenlo, owned by Trelawny Farm LLC.

Irish riders also featured in the smaller classes last week, with a one-two for Ronan Guckian on Gina Bella and Simon McCarthy on Ultimo Des Natices Z in a 1.20m Open Jumper class, while on Saturday, Christian Coyle rode Ma Pomme De Tamerville into third place in a 1.40m Open Jumper class.

Garrigan second in Warsaw World Cup

Dublin’s Matt Garrigan rode Quantum Robin Z, by Carambole, into second place in Sunday’s three-star World Cup Grand Prix at Warsaw in Poland. Garrigan was one of just two riders to jump clear in the first round and he was clear again in the jump-off, in a time of 34.95 seconds. This wasn’t quite fast enough for first place though and he finished just behind Greek rider Angelos Touloupis with Lord Mexx by Larimar, in a time of 32.91.

Friday saw Diarmuid Howley and Coden VA finished sixth in a 1.35m Speed and Music class, while Saturday saw the pair win the 1.45m Six-Bar class.

Matt Garrigan and Quantum Robin Z took the runner-up spot in Sunday's three-star World Cup Grand Prix at Warsaw in Poland

Irish on form at Sentower Park

THE Indoor Youth Festival at Sentower Park, Opglabbeek, Belgium, attracted quite a number of Irish riders across the pony, junior, young rider, children on horses and under 25 classes last week, many of whom brought home ribbons.

Last Thursday, Natasha Foley and Verdis Diamond (ISH) won a 1.25m Junior class, while the 1.35m Two-phase special Junior class saw a second place for Gary Dooley and CSF Olympic Jewel (ISH). Claudia Carroll and Attyrory Warrior went one better to win their 1.20m Two-phase Special Pony class.

Friday saw an Irish top-three in the 1.25m Pony class, with Claudia Carroll on Attyrory Warrior in first; Annie Boland on Madame Cello in second and Gary Dooley on Belmont Blonde in third. Clearly on form, Gary Dooley then rode CSF Olympic Jewel to win a 1.35m Junior class.

On Saturday, Connie McFadden and Infinity won their 1.10m Pony class, with third, fourth and sixth places also going to Irish riders. Taylor Sweeney rode Domino van de Valhoeve into third place in the 1.45m Under 25 Grand Prix.

The 1.15m Two-phase Special Pony class on Sunday was won by Elizabeth McMahon and Lurgan Sallyann, concluding a very successful show.

Hughes Kennedy claims fourth in Oliva three-star Grand Prix

KILKENNY’S Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH) took fourth place in the three-star Grand Prix at Oliva in Spain on Sunday. This 11-year-old mare was bred by Eamonn Sheehan in Co Kilkenny.

The pair went double clear in 40.54 seconds, which saw them finish less than a second behind the winner, Britain’s Louise Simpson with Cindy R.

The Irish had a strong start to the weekend at Oliva. Hughes Kennedy won a 1.30m Two-Phase class on Saturday with Echonix and he placed fourth in a 1.50m Jump Off class the same day with Castlefield Hera (ISH).

Meanwhile, there were numerous placings from Irish riders in the smaller classes, including Robert Splaine and Coolcorron Lachlan winning a 1.30m class; an Irish one-two from Aisling Byrne on Bronson de Reve and Cian Byrne on China Man in a 1.10m class; a second place from Thomas Ryan and Kopernic Van Orti in a 1.30m class, while Jason Foley won a 1.40m class with Mr Castlefield.

In the age classes, Cian Byrne placed second in the Five-year-old final with Ringwood Patience, with Christopher Megahey slotting into third in the same class with Sustainable Solinton Vd Brouwershoeve. Eoin Gallagher and Renco Van Papinglo came third in the Six-year-old final and second in the Six-year-old Champion Trophy. Byrne and Ringwood Patience came third in the Five-year-old Champion Trophy.