IRISH riders once again made their presence felt on the opening day of the famous four-star show at Hickstead in England, Richard Howley winning two speed classes on Thursday and Shane Breen taking second place in the day’s feature class.

Tipperary-born Breen and his bay gelding Farao Van’t Vennehof were one of 20 combinations to register a clear first round and in the ensuing jump-off, the duo also came home with a zero penalty score. However they were just over a third of a second slower than British winner Guy Williams with the grey Depardieu Van’t Kiezelhof.