Lucy Latta in Paris Olympics frame after Badminton Horse Trials landmark

Lucy Latta achieved one of Irish eventing history's landmark results after a second-place finish at the prestigious Mars Badminton Horse Trials.

The Wexford rider was making her five-star debut and the runner-up finish puts her firmly in the Paris Olympics selection frame.

Latta, who is the cousin of Grand National-winning jockey Robbie Power, went close to becoming the first Irish winner at Badminton since Captain Eddie Boylan 59 years ago.

Eight faults on RCA Patron Saint in Sunday's jumping phase enabled Latta to rise to second from an overnight position of third in the 75th edition of the competition.

New Zealand rider Caroline Powell, 59, and the Irish Sport Horse Greenacres Special Cavalier, bred in Meath by Michael Callery, overtook Latta with a clear round to triumph with a total penalty count of 43.2.

"I can dream about the Olympics, I would love to think I could go," Latta said after her feat, adding that she would "have bitten your hand off" to have been in the position she found herself on Sunday.

"My horse was phenomenal this week, and there's still loads to improve on with him, in the dressage, and things to clean up in the show jumping."

Somerset-based Alex Bragg took third on Quindiva, with Emily King and Valmy Biats finishing fourth.

Additional reporting: PA