CO DOWN’s Conor Swail has extended his lead at the top of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup North American League after two wins from two in the opening legs of the league and looks almost already set to return to the 2023 FEI World Cup Final.

After winning the opening leg in Sacramento (USA) with Vital Chance de la Roque, Swail led the victory lap again last weekend in Washington, this time with his mount from the 2022 World Cup Final in Leipzig and the Aga Khan in Dublin, Count Me In.

Portuguese course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral set a technical track at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, which was hosting World Cup competition for the first time. But the quality of the field was strong, and included a whole host of Olympians, with nine of the starting 30 combinations eventually advancing to the shortened course.

The lead changed hands a few times before Swail entered the ring as fourth to go with the speedy 15-year-old gelding, owned by Sandy Lupton and Mannon Farm, who helped Ireland capture the Aga Khan trophy back in August in a thrilling jump-off. On this occasion he was once again too quick for the rest when setting the winning time at 35.76 seconds.

Israel’s Daniel Bluman came closest to catching Swail with Gemma W when they broke the beams in 36.00 for second place, while USA’s Brian Moggre also gave it a good try with MTM Vivre Le Reve but had to settle for third place in 36.74.

Daniel Coyle finished in the top 10 with Ariel Grange’s Legacy. The pair faulted once against the clock to finish eighth. Swail earned the top prize of $133,980 and it was the pair’s first five-star Grand Prix win together.

“[Count Me In] has really changed my career,” a delighted Swail said afterwards. “He’s brought me to a lot of places I’d never been and has been very successful doing it. This year, I know he’s capable, and returning to World Cup Finals is something that I’m looking forward to doing with him. It is a plan at this point, which probably makes it better.”

Between Count Me In and Vital Chance de la Roque, Swail has recorded five NAL victories over the course of the last two seasons, and with Count Me In, Swail finished eighth in Leipzig. He will continue to pursue points toward the 2023 Finals in Omaha at upcoming legs in Toronto (CAN) and Las Vegas (USA).

“Since I got those two horses, Count Me In and Vital Chance de la Roque, we really hit it off, and we’ve gone through the roof,” Swail said. Swail boasts a commanding lead in the NAL standings with 40 points. Bluman and Sophia Siegel (USA) are tied for second with 17 points apiece.

Coyle win

Daniel Coyle won two classes at the Washington Horse Show. The first came in Thursday’s five-star 1.50m Table A aboard his top mount Legacy. The 12-year-old mare by Chippendale Z posted the best of four clears in the seven-horse jump-off to win $24,750.

His time of 27.42 was almost three seconds faster than USA runner-up Hunter Holloway with Pepita Con Spita (0/0 30.32). Limerick’s Paul O’Shea finished in sixth place with Imerald van’t Voorhof (0/4 27.67).

Daniel (Oak Grove’s Carlyle) shared victory in Saturday night’s Puissance competition with his brother Jordan (Eristov) and USA’s McLain Ward (Catoki). The trio all jumped the fifth and final round as 2.10m and, for Ward, it was a remarkable 10th win in the class.

“We’ve competed our whole lives together. We’re brothers, but when the helmet goes on, you become a competitor and that’s how it is. It’s great we’ve learned a lot from each other over the years, and it’s great now to be at the top of the sport together,” Daniel said about competing against his brother at the top of the sport.