DOWN’S Conor Swail claimed a place on the podium in the five-star $340,000 1.60m Grand Prix at Desert International Horse Park in California on Saturday riding the talented Casturano. The class saw a start list of just 19 competing for the generous prize fund, with only eight of them keeping the fences intact in the first round and proceeding to the timed decider. Swail and his mount were among the four who completed without fault after round two, in a jump-off time of 39.04 seconds.

Mathijs van Asten (NED) took the win and the top prize of $102,000 with Hotspot in a time of 36.64, while Callie Schott (USA) on Uricas V/D Kattevennan were runners-up in 38.71 for a prize of $68,000. Swail pocketed $51,000 for third place.