KILDARE’S Michael Pender claimed a fabulous second place in Saturday’s five-star €500,000 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes in France with the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HHS Cyprus (Cornet Obolensky x HHS Acorado by Acorado), bred by Marion Hughes. The class had a start list of 40, of whom just four combinations jumped clear in the first round for the chance to jump again; three of them completed double clear rounds to claim their well-deserved podium places.

Pender and his mount were the first pair to go clear and jumped a flawless double clear round in a jump-off time of 41.35. The Irish pair were only beaten by Belgium’s Abdel Said on Wathnan Zasou vom Claashof, who stopped the clock in 39.44 - this 12-year-old being more experienced and able to cover the ground and turn at speed. Third place went to Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) on Cellagon Cascais in a time of 43.44. Pender took home a very generous €100,000 for second place, while Said took the winner’s prize of €165,000.