Conor Swail secures big-money win in Kentucky

Conor Swail and Casturano landed the $225,000 Kentucky Invitational four-star Grand Prix, while the Charlotte Jacobs-ridden Irish Sport Horse (ISH), Rincoola Milsean also on the podium.

After navigating one of six opening-round clear efforts, Down man Swail was imperious in the jump-off to take the win with a lightning quick clear round in 40.96 seconds.

Egypt's Nigel Nassar finished runner-up with Igor Van De Wittemoere in 41.48 seconds while the Harold McGahern-bred Rincoola Milsean was double clear in 42.39 seconds to finish third with American rider Jacobs.

"Honestly, the horse jumps clear after clear after clear," said a delighted Swail afterwards. "He never knocks jumps down.

"So the confidence you get from riding a horse with so much ability and how he's grown with me over the last year, I'm extremely excited about him.

"I think if he keeps doing what he's doing and progressing, that he's going to be one of the best horses in the world. I'm just very lucky to have him. I'm really looking forward to what's coming next for him."

Elsewhere, Mark McAuley posted two brilliant five-star top three finishes in Fontainebleu over the weekend, with both classes being won by the brilliant German horseman, Daniel Deusser.

The €120,000 against-the-clock 1.55m class attracted a field that was jam-packed with the world's elite.

McAuley and the Irish Sport Horse GRS Lady Amaro, who was bred at Garryrichard Stud by Denis Hickey and is owned by SC McAuley Equestrian, muscled themselves into third with a stunning clear round in a time of 68.90 seconds. That earned €18,000 of the prize fund, but it was Daniel Deusser leading a German 1-2.

Remarkably, the Olympic medallist was just fourth of into the ring on Killer Queen VDM but their time of