SLIGO’s Richard Howley finished runner-up in the two-star Grand Prix at Olomouc in the Czech Republic last weekend, as well as winning a 1.45m class.

Riding the 10-year-old stallion Arlo de Blondel, who is owned by the rider, HK Horses and Sarah Borthwick, Howley’s victory came in Saturday’s 1.45m jump-off class. just seven made it through to the timed round against the clock and the pair were the fastest of five clear rounds when breaking the beam in 36.97 seconds to earn €6,350.

Czech rider Vladimir Tretera was second with Gangster v/h Noddevelt, ahead of Britain’s Jason Smith and the Irish Sport Horse Queensway Royal (O.B.O.S. Quality x Maltstriker) who was bred by Jim Seymour.

Howley and Arlo de Blondel were then runners-up in Sunday’s 1.60m World Cup qualifier at the venue. From 50 starters, 14 made it through to the jump-off and nine produced a second clear against the clock. Howley’s time of 34.87 was just pipped by three hundredths of a second by home rider Ales Opatrny and Forewer (0/0 34.59). Co Meath’s Alexander Butler slotted into fifth place with the 13-year-old stallion Chilli B, owned by L.C.J. Berben, when clear in 37.19 seconds.