IRISH eyes were smiling in Tryon as Conor Swail and Rubens LS La Silla claimed victory in Sunday night’s $384,000 Rolex Grand Prix at the five-star show, ahead of Limerick’s Paul O’Shea in the runner-up position.

The combination delivered the only double clear of the class in 39.80 seconds. Owned by Rose Hill Farm, Rubens LS La Silla is a 12-year-old stallion by Rebozo Ls La Silla.

Paul O’Shea put in a gallant attempt with his World Equestrian Games-mount Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu, but with two down against the clock, it proved only good enough for second place on this occasion.

Owned by Skara Glen Stables and Whipstick Farm, Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu is an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Silverstone. America’s Margie Engle and Royce took third place when they crossed the line carrying 12 faults.

Only three riders returned to the shortened course, which was designed by American course builder Anthony D’Ambrosio, and Swail maintained the pair’s stronghold on the lead.

Speaking after the class, the Co Down show jumper said: “My horse has had a great year so far and he was coming in here with a lot of confidence. I thought that the time was going to be a little bit of an issue for me, but thankfully I squeezed just inside it.

“It started off a little scratchy for us at the start. I think it was because we haven’t competed in five weeks. The second half of the round he jumped beautifully. We squeezed just inside the time, but thankfully there weren’t many more in the jump-off.”

O’Shea was happy to land a second podium place in as many weeks. “I saw Conor go on the screen,” O’Shea explained, “and he didn’t look really fast, but he was really fast and is always really fast, so that didn’t tell me much, really.

“My horse has been jumping really well this year and we have been competing in Nations Cups all year. He won the Grand Prix here exactly a year ago and that was the last time we went this fast. He’s had a great year and it’s nice to finish with a result like this.”

O’BRIEN FLYING

David O’ Brien continued the good form he demonstrated last week when taking victory and the runner-up place in the 1.45m $35,000 Power and Speed Stakes earlier in the week. O’Brien was back in the line-up later in the show, when he took sixth and seventh in the $35,000 1.45m. He delivered his best result with Kir Royal SCF, four faults in 62.44. He also had one pole on the ground with Kirschwasser SCF in the slower time of 64.91.

Lorcan Gallagher and Stealing Home added to their record when finishing fourth in the 1.35m Open Jumper last Friday, with a clear round in 34.26. Later in the day, Shane Sweetnam and Buckle Up took seventh place in the 1.40m, when they incurred four faults in 35.12.

Lorcan Gallagher delivered another good result in the $70,000 Sunday Classic 1.50m, when he delivered a clear aboard Charlie for eventual fourth and picked up $7,000 for his efforts.

Earlier in the week, Conor Swail led the victory lap with Coco Chanel in the 1.40m when clear in 35.41. Also placed in this class were Captain Brian Cournane and Armik, clear in 36.91 for eventual fifth.

On Thursday, a solid performance from Richie Moloney and Button Sitte saw them deliver a clear in 36.24 in the $132,000 Welcome Stake 1.50m for fifth place.

Conor O’Regan also featured in the line-up on Sunday, slotting into fourth place with Viserion in the $10,000 seven-year-old Jumper Championship.

David O’ Brien added to his record, when he took the win in the six-year-old Jumper Championship with Merly Chin SCF. He also took sixth with Shadowfax, when carrying four faults. One place behind was Richie Moloney and Carnlea Premier.