DANIEL Coyle announced his arrival in Europe with a bang, taking out a stellar field to win the first qualifier for the Rolex Grand Prix at Aachen on Friday with the remarkable Farrel. The 16-year-old’s story is well known now, as the diminutive horse with the heart of a lion, that has come back from four years in retirement to deliver time and again at the highest level over the past two seasons.

The duo represented Ireland and Ariel Grange’s Lothlorien Farm to stunning effect in Germany to bag the €37,500 first prize in the five-star speed class, stopping the clock in 70.99 seconds and leaving all the obstacles intact.

That was enough to see off Luciana Diniz (BRA) with Vertigo du Desert by almost half a second. Kevin Staut (FRA), Scott Brash (GBR), Daniel Deusser (GER) and Richard Vogel (GER) were next in line, giving an indication of the calibre of opposition.

There were clear rounds too for Shane Sweetnam with the Patrick Connolly-bred James Kann Cruz (ISH) - who finished eighth in the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday after just touching the tape at the water in the first round - while Darragh Kenny on Eddy Blue and Cian O’Connor on Catolinue PS finished in the top 30.

The day started very well for Coyle, as he just missed out on gold in the opening five-star class, the two-phase competition. Riding Gisborne VDL, he slotted into the runner-up berth with a clear in 31.43, narrowly behind Julien Epaillard (FRA) with Easy Up De Grandry.

CSI4* Mâcon Chaintré

Back in Europe, Denis Lynch was also a four-star winner. He and Katja went full throttle in securing a speed class at Mâcon Chaintré in France. Once more, it was in definitive fashion, the Tipperary’s Finest totem and his pacy partner having more than two seconds in hand at the final bell.

Thirty-nine pairs were entered in the 1.45m class and, though 17 went clear, none could get close to the Irish combination.

“A victory is always a pleasure,” noted Lynch. “Katja must have won around eight events since the beginning of the year. In every competition she enters, it doesn’t matter, she always performs well. It’s a very enjoyable show, the horses are very well accommodated, and all the conditions are right here for a good performance.”

Lynch posted a double clear in the ensuing 1.50m jump-off class with Junius VD Heffinck Z to finish sixth behind French hero Dylan Levallois and Hawaii Semilly, but it was Mark McAuley who registered the best Irish performance here, guiding Clooney van Spalbeek Z to third with a jump-off time of 39.71.

And McAuley finished the week just outside the podium positions in the Grand Prix on Sunday, taking fourth with L’Arc En Ciel Z.

CSIO3* Lisbon

Mikey Pender was just nabbed close home in Saturday’s Winning Round class in Lisbon, having held the lead with a second clear in 39.70 on Thomascourt Victor (ISH), bred in Enniskillen by Catherine Thornton. But Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida and Comme Le Couer took 12-hundredths of a second off that to claim top honours.