CIAN O’Connor’s Kilkenny is “bright as a button” in Tokyo following his seventh place finish individually at the Olympic Games on Wednesday.

Sue Magnier’s nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse by Cardento, who was bred by Sinead Brennan at Mill House Stud, did not touch a pole over two rounds on jumping at the Baji Keon Equestrian Park and just a single time fault kept them out of a jump-off for an individual medal.

Kilkenny was subsequently withdrawn from today’s team competition following a nose bleed during his final round and is replaced by Shane Sweetnam and Alejandro.

O’Connor, who won bronze in London in 2012, reported: “I’m thrilled that Kilkenny has recovered very well and that he jumped two incredible clear rounds to finish seventh at the Olympic Games. I feel so lucky to have this special horse in my life and am extremely grateful to his owner Susan Magnier.”

He thanked his team at Karlswood, Ross Mulholland, Kilkenny’s groom Johanna Berg, all at team Ireland and his wife, Ruth.

“Also thanks to the huge amount of support received from everybody who has sent messages. The excitement of an Irish horse finishing in the top 10 at the Olympics is great to see and hopefully has positive spin-offs for our industry at home,” he added.