WEXFORD’S Bertram Allen was in action at the four-star World Cup show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last weekend where he was placed in a number of classes.

His top placing came in Thursday’s 1.50m ranking class with Ballywalter Stables’ eight-year-old gelding Empoli de Champloue. From a field of 35 starters, they were one of eight clear rounds in a time of 60.47 seconds. The combination were just fractions behind the winners, Belgium’s Abdel Saïd and Arpege du Ru who clocked 60.09. Third place belonged to Egypt’s Mouda Zeyada with Katia, who followed closely behind in a time of 61.35.

On Friday, Allen was back in the line-up, this time claiming fourth with the Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro in the FEI World Cup. Owned by Aiden McGrory, the 10-year-old Pacino gelding was bred by Simon Scott from Donegal out of NC Amiro mare Carnone Dancing Queen. In total, 29 went to post and from those nine proceeded to the second round. Allen proved out of luck when he had one down in the second round in a time of 40.76, which would have been good enough for the win. He claimed €15,000 for the placing.

Victory went to Germany’s David Will with Zaccorado Blue, when he was fastest of just two clears against the clock in 41.59. Japan’s Mike Kawai and Saxo de la Cour took the runner-up spot when they delivered a clear in 45.05, ahead of Edwina Top-Alexander and the stallion Coreli de Mies, who finished on one fault from the first round.

Allen finished his tour on a positive note as he slotted into seventh place in Saturday’s 1.55m Grand Prix. Riding Empoli de Champloue, he picked up four faults in the first round in a time of 76.25. Just three made it through to the jump-off and all three went clear again against the clock, where Japan’s Mike Kawai eventually took the win with Tokyo du Soleil.