THROUGH a very heavy downpour, Conor Swail reminded everyone just why he is one of Ireland’s top riders, when he guided Mannon Farm’s German-bred gelding Theo (Christian 25 x Calando IV) to an impressive clear in a 81.18 to take the victory in Thursday’s Clayton Hotel’s Speed Derby.

Without hesitation from the off, the Co Down man gave a confident ride over all the challenges a derby track presents, including a fence on top of the bank, a wide run-through water at the top of the arena and the devil’s dyke at the end of the track.

Winners of the previous day’s Speed Stakes, Frano Derwin and Parvati AEG, had to settle for the runner-up spot here, crossing the finish in 81.74.

Third went to Julien Gonin and Estrella de La Batia from France in 82.48. Mikey Pender and HHS Fortune (Catoki x Douglas) slotted into fourth; they produced an incredibly fast round stopping the clock at 75.66, but with two fences down, they had eight seconds to add for a finish time of 83.66.

Irish riders accounted for fifth and sixth place. Cian O’Connor and Fox Chapel produced a clear round in a time of 85.02, while Shane Sweetnam and Irandole du Flot had one fence down in 81.39 which left them on a total score of 85.39.

Full throttle

“I was very happy with the win,” said Swail. “It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden in the Speed Derby. It’s just full throttle the whole way around. We had a bit of an early draw, but Theo always pulls one out of the bag for me. He is super-fast and he’s deadly careful and he doesn’t mind all those funny ones, jumping through the water or anything that’s odder than normal. It’s always great to win at Dublin Horse Show and it was a fun round.”

He also secured qualification for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix with the 17-year-old Count Me In, who returned from a year of illness and question marks about his future with a stunning victory in the five-star Grand Prix, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows in July.

“I am having a great season. It’s great to see Crosby (Count Me In) back jumping some big classes. We won a million dollar Grand Prix five or six weeks ago. So I’m coming here with some nice form.

“I’ve been second, third, fourth and fifth in the Dublin Grand Prix and it’s one I’d love to put on my resumé, with it being part of the Rolex Series now just making it even more attractive, but really, I’d love to win it because I’m Irish. We nearly did the double the year we won the Aga Khan, but we have a nice chance on Sunday and I’m looking forward to that.”

Coyle lands Cashel Palace Stakes

Incredible lived up to his name on Thursday afternoon of the show when he partnered Daniel Coyle to win the Cashel Palace Stakes. A 1.60m jump-off competition, it saw a 45-strong start list. Eleven of the 45 produced a first-round clear to progress to the decider.

Coyle and the Dutch-bred gelding produced the winning time of 34.91 to earn the top prize of almost €19,000 for himself and co-owner Ariel Grange. Italy’s Giulia Martinengo Marquet riding Delta De l’Isle earned second place when they broke the beams in 35.26.

Denis Lynch and his own German stallion Cordial (Casall x Chicago Z) finished third in 36.78. Bertram Allen rode another German-bred, Qin Yu Pang’s Caprisco (Cole Porter x Arpeggio) into fourth place.

America’s McLain Ward took fifth aboard Contagious (Contagio x For Keeps) for owners Beechwood Stables. Germany’s Daniel Deusser rode his own and Stephex Stables’ mare Killer Queen Vdm (Eldorado Vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure) into sixth.