VICTORY eluded the Irish in the 1.50m jump-off class at the four-star show at Montefalco in Italy last Friday, but the green, white and orange did fill the other podium positions thanks to Thomas Ryan and Billy Twomey.

Ten combinations recorded two clear rounds at Le Lame International and victory went to Ali Hamad Al Kirbi (UAE), with Jarlin De Torres, by virtue of a blindingly quick tie-break time of 35.74.

The Irish pair did depart with a share of the prize money from the Umbrian venue, with Ryan claiming second place with Jezebeau BC (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve), as they stopped the clock on 37.23, just 12-hundredths of a second quicker than Twomey and Jumping Jack Van De Kalevallei (Kannan).

Just off the podium, Giacomo Bassi opened the top five riding Cash du Pratel (by l’Arc de Triomphe), ahead of compatriot Emilio Bicocchi with Kankan Del Buttasella (Kannan).

Twomey was back on the podium on Saturday, this time steering Julius to third in the 1.45m ranking speed class. There were 65 participants and only two were quicker than the Corkman and his 11-year-old bay, who skipped around the arena without a fault in 68.47.

The class was won by Belgium’s Abdel Said, with Zasou Vom Claashof, who registered an unbeatable time of 67.55.

Ryan also maintained his consistency, the Tipperary pilot taking Connoisseur PWR to fifth with a time of 72.12.

Twomey finished the week by partnering Ace Of Hearts Z to a fourth-place finish in a 1.45m two-phase event on Sunday. The duo were the quickest of those that were outside the 28-second mark in the speed portion of proceedings, on 28.03 but three combinations finished under it, with victory going to Luca Maria Coin (ITA) with El Capone RK.

He did make the jump-off in the 1.55m Grand Prix later on, but Jumping Jack Van De Kalevallei rubbed a pole in the bid to post a competitive time and the pair had to settle for seventh.

Portugal’s Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida and Karonia.L were the winners here with a time of 42.69, in what was a jump-off between nine horse and rider combinations. Almeida took the win ahead of Abdel Said (BEL) and Arpege du Ru in second and Humaid Abdullah Khalifa Al Muhairi (UAE) aboard Foncetti vd Heffink in third.

In the CSI4* 1.40m, there was victory on home soil for Matteo Simonetti Elia who secured the win with the 14-year-old Bad Boy Dy Bobois (Nabab de Rêve). British rider Chloe Aston took second place with Flavie van de Helle (Carlow van de Helle), while Abdullah Mohd Al Marri completed the podium aboard Diabla PS (Chacco Lover).