TIPPERARY’s Denis Lynch produced a stunning second round performance with Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof, to win last Saturday’s five-star 1.50m world ranking class at Basel in Switzerland.

Lynch was one of nine combinations to make it into the second round jump-off with the 16-year-old gelding and a brilliant display saw him take the winner’s cheque of almost €12,000.

Flying Frenchman Rodger Yves Bost had set the early target with Pegase Du Murier, coming home clear in 33.95 seconds.

However Lynch set off at incredible speed with Abbervail, determined to win what would be the pairing’s last competition together. They never looked like touching a pole and came home almost seven-tenths of a second quicker to take victory.

Less than a second

Less than a second separated the top four finishers, with Lynch denying the home crowd a local win when he forced Switzerland’s Romain Douget into second place with the unusually named, Twentytwo Des Biches. Belgium’s Jerome Guery took third spot on the podium with Grand Cru Van De Rozenberg, while Yves-Bost had to settle for fourth place.

In-form Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano did manage to beat the target time with Admara but one fence on the floor dropped them down to seventh place at the finish. The Irish Sport Horse Castlefield Eclipse also made it through to the jump-off, partnered by Swiss rider Paul Estermann.

They finished in eighth place after they also lowered a single rail.