KILDARE’S Niall Talbot came out on top in last Sunday’s two-star Grand Prix at Wiener-Neustadt in Austria, riding his local partner Nicos De La Cense.

From a startlist of 39 competitors, Talbot, who is based in Switzerland, was one of four combinations to jump double clear in the class and guided the 15-year-old chesnut gelding (by Eyken Des Fonenis) to the fastest clear round in 52.56 seconds, ahead of Germany’s Jörne Sprehe and Stakki’s Jumper, to collect the winner’s prize of €6,250.

Nicos has been the ride of Talbot since he was a seven-year-old and the combination have enjoyed many Grand Prix wins and Nations Cup appearances, including a win in the three-star Grand Prix at San Giovanni, Italy, last summer after the horse came back from an injury layoff.

Last month, the pair placed seventh in the three-star Grand Prix in Knokke, Belgium, with an unfortunate time fault in the first round.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Talbot said Nicos always tries hard in the ring.

“He’s a real fighter! I’ve had him since he was a seven-year-old. He’s 15 now but still always tries his best for me every time. I’m lucky to have him,” he said.

Also at the two-star Austrian venue, Talbot picked up a seventh place finish in the 1.45m Big Tour final with Caracter. The 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding jumped a double clear round in 46.87 seconds to take home €1,300 in prize money. That class was won by the Czech Republic’s Ales Opatrny, who posted the fastest time of 43.18.