BETWEEN all the good flat racing at Doncaster, the Curragh, Meydan and even Kempton last Saturday, it was easy to overlook some jumps action at Auteuil, where amateur rider Harry Swan popped up with a winner.

He was one of three Irish-based amateurs invited to ride in a handicap chase on the card and he was fortunate enough to pass the post in front on the 11/1 shot Fauda for trainer Nathan Vergne.

Harry told us: “I rode a winner in Clairefontaine last summer for Hugo Merienne and I think that’s how I came to get the call from Nathan. A couple of other trainers offered me a ride in the race too - I suppose the fact that my dad [Charlie] is in France a lot as well is no harm.”

It was Harry’s second ride at Auteuil and, even though he only won by a neck, everything went smoothly. “The ground was described as heavy, but I’d call it yielding,” he said. “My horse was having his first run over fences so he did well to win. We hit the front after the last fence. The second horse rallied on the run-in, but we were always holding him.”

Harry is hoping he might get a call offering him a ride in the amateur riders’ race on the ‘Grand Steep’ card on May 17th. But in the meantime, he is keeping busy.

“I’m working with the bloodstock insurance company NFP in Dublin. The company used to be called Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurances. It’s busy, it’s different and I’m enjoying it.”