LOUTH’s Mark McAuley was fractions away from winning the 1.50m feature Grand Prix class at last Sunday’s five-star Global Champions Tour in Rome, Italy.

Riding his wife Charlotte’s 10-year-old gelding Valentino Tuiliere, McAuley was among eight clears in the first round. They were fourth last to go in the jump-off round and pipped the previous evening’s Grand Prix winner, Ben Maher, into third place aboard F One USA, when making a phenomenal turn on both roll backs and breaking the beam in 40.08 seconds.

The victory looked like it was his until last to go, Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot, shaved milliseconds off his time to take the win in 39.71 seconds. McAuley earned just over €18,500 for second place.

Denis Lynch took fifth when he crossed the line with nothing to add aboard his new charge, Rubens LS la Silla, in 42.35.

Earlier in the week, Bertram Allen and GK Casper claimed third place in the 1.55m/1.60m Table A class in a time of 69.04. Victory went to Frenchman Julien Epaillard and Queeletta, clear in 65.03, ahead of Emanuele Gaudiano and Chalou, who clocked 67.56. From the 48 starters, 12 delivered clears to share the prize fund.

Also keeping the Irish flag in the air was Offaly’s Darragh Kenny. Riding the Ann Thompson-owned Important de Muze, he recorded a fourth-place finish in the 1.55m competition. Kenny was one of 12 clears in a time of 77.11. Taking victory was France’s Simon Delestre and Filou Carlo Zimequest, when he galloped home in 74.80 seconds.

In the CSI2* 1.40m on Saturday, Lucinda Roche put in a solid performance to take ninth. Riding Izar, she had an unlucky four faults in 71.50. In the CSI2* 1.30m on Friday, Hannah O’ Shea slotted into sixth with Ciao Bella when clear in 64.41.