KILKENNY’S Jack Ryan had the luck of the Irish on his side when he claimed three podium places at week one of the Andalucia Pre-Sunshine Tour at Vejer De La Frontera, Spain over the weekend. The most notable of his podium finishes was in Friday’s two-star 1.45m speed class, when he and the well-named 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding DSH Lucky Junior (BBS McGregor x Dahlyi by Luidam), bred and owned by Seamus Drea, placed third with a clear round in 72.45 seconds, out of 47 starters. Germany’s on-form Kendra Claricia Brinkop rode Sniper des Lilas Blancs into first place in a time of 69.84, ahead of Italy’s Emilio Bicocchi on Hemerald d’Argonne in second (71.18).

Great start