IRISH riders had continued success at Ocala over the weekend, with Clare’s Philip McGuane and his reliable partner My Lady van de Krekel winning the three-star $32,000 1.45m Winning Round class on Friday to take home the top prize of $9,600 with their time of 40.88. They beat Charlotte Jacobs (USA) and her 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Thomascourt Ballypatrick (Balou du Rouet x Doctros Delight by Indoctro), bred by Seamus Casey in Co Kerry, into second place (41.24).

Continuing the Irish run, Derry’s Daniel Coyle took the top spot in Saturday’s $15,000 1.35/1.40m Futures Prix with his brand-new partner Urville Z. Just five of the 21 starters jumped clear in the first round to proceed to the jump-off, where four of them remained fault-free. Coyle and Urville Z rode a quick jump-off round in 40.37 seconds to secure the win from Charlotte Jacobs (USA) on the Irish Sport Horse Rincoola Milsean in second (40.61), while Limerick’s Paul O’Shea on Ouija placed third (42.21). Athlone’s Francis Derwin on For Space finished in ninth place.