IRISH riders claimed three of the top four places in the four-star $200,000 Live Oak International 1.55m Grand Prix in Ocala on Sunday. From a start list of 23, eight combinations were clear in the first round to book a place in the jump-off. Five partnerships managed to jump clear for a second time, with Athlone’s Francis Derwin on the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse Flexi K (Flex A Bill x Deeply Dippy K by Luidam), bred by Knightfield Stud, proving best of the Irish in second place in a jump-off time of 44.52 seconds. Robert Blanchette also finished on the podium in third with the 15-year-old mare Chardonnay (44.75), with Derry’s Daniel Coyle and Incredible just behind in fourth place (45.27). The only competitor to foil the Irish efforts was Aaron Vale (USA) on Gray’s Inn, whose time of 44.06 could not be bettered. The American took home $60,000 for his trouble, while Derwin pocketed $40,000 for his runner-up place, with $30,000 going to Blanchette and $20,000 to Coyle.

Placings