IRELAND'S Bertram Allen came closest to scoring his first major win of the weekend at the five-star World Cup show in Verona, Italy onSaturday night but was outpaced by Italy'sEmanueleGaudiano andCocoshynsky.

The Wexford-born rider brought outBallywalter Farms's bay gelding Belmonde after its month-long rest from international competition, and though setting a seemingly unbeatable time of62.80 seconds when 13th to jump in an 18-strong field, had to settle for second place when, two riders later, the Italian star produced a heart-stopping time of60.12 seconds on hisCornet Obolensky mare.

Gaudiano collected the first prize of 6,000 euro, while the 20 year-old Irishman picked up 5,000 euro for his runner-up place.

The two will do battle again this afternoon (Sunday) in the World Cup class, but on different horses. Gaudiano is in the advantageous position of being last to jump in a 40-strong start list on the grey stallionCaspar, while Allen will fieldBilly Twomey's durable 17-year-old stallion Romanov in 38th place on the list.

Also taking part will be Mayo's Cameron Hanley and the talented bay gelding Antello Z, who will compete earlier, scheduled 11th to jump.

Earlier today at the four-star show in Liege, Tipperary's Shane Breen also took a second place withAcoustik Solo du Baloubet, losing out to Switzerland'sNiklaus Rutschi andEarl Prey's Caro CH by just under two seconds.

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