TIPPERARY’s Denis Lynch and the brilliant stallion All Star 5 recorded a fifth-place finish in the five-star Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Cannes on Saturday, adding to their victory just 24 hours earlier at the top French venue.

Lynch and the 13-year-old All Star collected a single time fault in the opening round and kept all the fences standing again when one of 18 who went forward to the second round. Wexford’s Bertram Allen also made it through to round two with Romanov and eventually would finish in 18th place with the 18-year-old stallion.

Former world number one Britain’s Scott Brash collected the winner’s Grand Prix prize of almost €100,000 when he produced the fastest time of a four-horse third round jump-off against the clock.

Lynch and All Star claimed Friday’s €60,000 feature class, the Prix E. Leclere 1.55m after a four-horse jump-off. Last to go, Lynch and All Star blitzed around the course in 34.93 seconds to knock flying Dutchman Michael van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Quatro off the spot spot. Germany’s Daniel Deusser was third with the stallion Hidalgo VG over a course set by Uliano Vezzani.

Earlier at the show, Bertram Allen (20) had set the Irish off to a winning start amidst a thunderstorm in Cannes by finishing in a deadheat tie for first place in last Thursday’s two-phase class. Allen guided Quite Easy 4 to the exact same time as Germany’s David Will with the Cruising-sired mare Mic Mac Du Tillard.

There was success too for Britain’s Ben Maher who floored a top field of 72 riders with a stunning win in the five-star Prix Constance Prince Maurice Trophy on fiery chesnut Aristo Z by a comfortable three second margin.

GRAND PRIX THRILLER

However glory at Cannes belonged to Brash and Hello Forever in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix, presented by Haras des Grillons. Brash bested a star-studded field which included eight of the world’s top 10 riders.

Brash said: “He’s a real trier – but I think it can get a lot smoother yet!” said Scott. “It’s still early days with him. He can make my life a bit difficult at times but the best is yet to come with him.”

Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander with Lintea Tequila rode a brave and beautiful round to take the silver medal while Germany’s Daniel Deusser continued his run of good form taking third spot on the podium with Equita Van’t Zorgvliet.

Vezzani set a challenging test of full-blown Grand Prix fences with a mix of tall, gappy verticals and gaping oxers that required precision, especially round the tight turns in round one with the last two fences of an oxer over a water tray to a vertical on either four or five strides proving the biggest test.

Eight jumped clear, with Denis Lynch and All Star 5 on an unfortunate time-fault, and a raft of four-faulters, the quickest of which made it through as part of the top 18, creating a stellar line-up for round two.

The second round track proved more straightforward with three doubles rather than a triple combination, and some hairpin bends to keep riders on their toes. For those carrying forward four faults, the strategy was to produce a quick clear to climb up the leaderboard and it was Britain’s Laura Renwick who profited the most, riding the fastest second round clear and rising up to finish sixth with Bintang II, just ahead of France’s Kevin Staut and Germany’s Marcus Ehning who both put their foot down but kept the poles up.

Lynch stayed on a steady tempo for another clean round of jumping to finish on the one fault carried through and was placed fifth, just missing a spot in the third and final round. The jump-off track contained two new fences, with some sharp turn backs and concluded with the Longines double, followed by a right hand turn and a race to the final oxer and over the finish line.

France’s Roger-Yves Bost galloped the course with his mare Sangria Du Coty to post a brilliant clear in 40.52, much to the delight of the home crowd who leapt to their feet as he crossed the line. Deusser and Equita Van’t Zorgvliet found some amazing angles; their challenge was less than a second quicker, with the pair clear in 39.32.

Tops-Alexander and Lintea Tequila raced out of the starting block and the sparky mare did everything she could. They met the last on a stunning stride and slid into the lead, clear in 38.67.

However, Brash stole the show, quickly finding top gear as they galloped to the fences. The crowds gasped as 10-year-old Hello Forever, owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham, leapt cat-like, using his acrobatic skills to ensure every pole remained intact. The pair motored round the final bend to nail the final fence and stop the clock in a stunning 37.98, which had the crowd on their feet all around the arena.

Germany’s Christian Ahlmann still dominates at the top of the table as the tour progresses to Monaco next week for leg nine of the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour season.