CANADIAN-based northerner Daniel Coyle got the perfect start to his Dublin campaign when he won the opening class of the show, the Alpes D’Or Speed Stakes, on Wednesday.

Riding Ariel Grange’s 10-year-old mare Tienna, Coyle stopped the clock in a time of 51.48, just ahead of runner-up Darragh Kenny and Billy Manjaro in 51.82.

Third place went to Bertram Allen and the German-bred Calafrieda in 52.21, while Cameron Hanley and Thoreme Du Desir slotted into fourth.

The 1.45m Minerva Stakes, which was also a one round speed, on Wednesday afternoon also went Ireland’s way.

Billy Twomey and Joe Flynn’s 14-year-old Irish-bred Ardcolum Duke recorded a winning time of 54.56, almost half a second ahead of Darragh Kenny who took his second runner-up spot of the day, this time with Cassini Z in 54.95.

Britain’s Harriet Nuttell finished in third place riding the Irish-bred Silver Lift (Easy Lift – Silver Cloud) after they stopped the clock at 55.25.

Darragh Kenny made sure he didn’t stay in the runner-up spot for a third time on Wednesday when capturing a decisive win in the Sport Ireland Classic jump-off class.

A massive 19 of the 50 starters made it into the jump-off in the 1.50-1.60m class. Of the 19, three returned eight faults in the timed decider, while a further six had one fence down.

Some 10 combinations managed a second clear round and Kenny was fastest of these in a time of 35.83 with Balou du Reventon. Ireland’s Mark McAuley finished second with the Swedish-bred Miebello in 36.46, while Steve Guerdat and Hannah were third in 37.11

Irish riders occupied the next two placings; Michael Duffy and the Irish-bred Lapuccino 2 were fourth in 37.35, while Richard Howley and Dolores finished fifth.