MICHAEL Blake’s Irish team finished runner-up in the $150,000 four-star Nations Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida on Saturday night, where a young USA team claimed victory.

A total of nine teams lined out for the competition, with the best six returning for the second round over USA’s Ken Krome’s course. As usual, the ‘Irish Embassy’ was in full swing at the Wellington venue, with Irish fans turning out in droves.