IN the latest top drawer victory for the brilliant duo, Wexford's Bertram Allen and Molly Malone V won Sunday's five-star Grand Prix at Dinard, France, from a starting field of 43 top international riders.

Over what proved a very testing course, only five combinations managed to post zero scores in the opening round.

The 20-year-old Irish rider and his brilliant grey mare were fourth to go in the decider in which the target was set by French rider Kevin Staut on Reveur De Hurtebise H D C, whose clear in 46.95 looked good enough for victory.

However, Allen and Molly Malone V set a scorching pace and, leaving everything intact, crossed the beam in 46.54 to take the win and the €67,000 purse after last to go, France's Aymeric De Punnat on Armitages Boy incurred four faults.

Earlier on Saturday, Allen was third on the nine-year-old gelding Belmonde in the opening class. He was one of only seven of the 40 starters to make it through to the jump-off, but incurred four faults in the decider in which only two riders posted a second clear round.

America's Kent Farrington on Willow took first place from Belgium's Gregory Wathelet riding Riesling Du Monselet. Allen's time was fastest of the four-faulters and earned him a top three finish.

Four faults in the opening round ruled out both Cork's Billy Twomey with Ardcolum Duke and Offaly's Darragh Kenny on SIEC Ledgepoint. Twomey went on to claim fifth place in the 1.50m Derby with Diaghilev.

HICKSTEAD

At Hickstead, Tipperary's Trevor Breen went clear first time out in the battle for the Queen Elizabeth 11 Cup riding Old Town KC, but the pair had four faults in the jump-off and took fifth place overall.

Shane Breen then kept up the brothers' impressive record at the top British venue, with a clear round in the British Speed Classic on board 10-year-old Reconnaissance, but could not threaten the time of winner Lorenzo De Luca on Homer de Reve who blew away the opposition with a time of 62.00.