KILDARE’s Niall Talbot landed a two-star double in Oliva, Spain, last weekend, as well as finishing third in Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Swiss-based Talbot kicked off his week with victory in Thursday’s 1.30m Table A aboard Kimberley Nienhaus’ 15-year-old gelding Kobold v. Schlösslihof CH with the fastest time of 63.84 seconds in the 20-horse class. Harold Megahey slotted into third place in a time of 31.04 with La Perla vd Heffinck.

Talbot and Kobold v. Schlösslihof CH were in winning form again on Sunday, racing to another victory in the 1.30m (0/58.34), where Frank Curran slotted into sixth place with Elamo Luz Like A Real One (0/72.41), and Kevin Thornton placed seventh with Empire Aeg Z (0/73.21).

A total of 57 combinations lined up to compete in Sunday’s Grand Prix in the main grass ring over Gérard Lachat’s track, and 11 of them managed to produce clear rounds to move on to the jump-off.

Talbot produced a second clear against the clock in a time of 37.21 seconds with Jean-Claude Engisch’s 14-year-old gelding Caracter to slot in to third place and earn €4,500. Victory went to Britain’s Emily Moffit aboard Tipsy du Terral (0/0 36.15), ahead of teammate Matthew Sampson in second.

Co Tyrone-based Curran picked up a win of his own in Saturday’s 1.45m. Riding Heffron Equine Ltd’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Oliver Twist (Oliver x Don Juan de la Bouverie), Curran produced the best time of 55.18 seconds to win. The combination were second in Sunday’s 1.40m behind Sampson.

Shane Dalton was also in action at the Spanish venue and he placed third in Saturday’s one-star 1.30m with Larimosa.