KILKENNY’S Jack Ryan had the luck of the Irish on his side when he claimed three podium places at week one of the Andalucia Pre-Sunshine Tour at Vejer De La Frontera, Spain over the weekend. The most notable of his podium finishes was in Friday’s two-star 1.45m speed class, when he and the well-named 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding DSH Lucky Junior (BBS McGregor x Dahlyi by Luidam), bred and owned by Seamus Drea, placed third with a clear round in 72.45 seconds, out of 47 starters. Germany’s on-form Kendra Claricia Brinkop rode Sniper des Lilas Blancs into first place in a time of 69.84, ahead of Italy’s Emilio Bicocchi on Hemerald d’Argonne in second (71.18).

Great start

Ryan had got off to a great start on Thursday, with a podium finish in the Young Horse one-star 1.25m seven-year-old two-phase special from a start list of 17. Ryan rode Ever So Clever Gm Z to a double clear round in a second phase time of 35.67 to take third place. Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) won the class on To Me-K van Kattenheye in a very fast time of 32.43, while James Whitaker (GBR) on LSS Kite Runner was second in 35.37.

Ryan then finished ninth with Keatingstown Mister Cool (71.73) in the day’s 48-strong two-star 1.40m speed class, which was won by Portugal’s Antonio Matos Almeida on Marques (64.97).

Ryan and Ever So Clever Gm Z scored another third place in Friday’s Young Horse one-star 1.30m seven-year-old speed class in 64.12, with yet another win going to Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) and To Me-K van Kattenheye (63.00).

Sunday saw Ryan place 10th with DSH Vigo Sea in the 15-strong Young Horse one-star 1.30m seven-year-old speed class, when clear in 66.00. Class winner Cassandre Malherbe (BEL) on Like A G6 MKM Z stopped the clock in 57.73.