Top-three finishes for Conor Swail and Mark McAuley in Florida

Ireland's impressive run of results at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida continued on Saturday as Co Down’s Conor Swail took the runner-up spot and Louth’s Mark McAuley claimed the third place in the $216,000 Horseware Ireland four-star Grand Prix.

Ten of the 45 starters made it into the second round jump-off and it looked like an Irish win was in store on St Patrick’s weekend as Swail put in a blazing round when second last to go aboard Vital Chance De La Roque to take the lead. At that stage, McAuley was in second place with Jasco vd Bisschop.

However, US Olympic team gold and silver medallist Laura Kraut had other ideas and took home the top prize with Confu, shaving over half a second off Swail’s leading time.

Swail, who is seventh in the world rankings, was delighted with his mount Vital Chance De La Roque, saying: "I’m very pleased with how tonight went and I think we are a great partnership.

"He’s quite a buzzy little chap – he is quite aggressive. But he uses it to his advantage because he is so small. He is small and mighty."

McAuley was also pleased with his mount, and said: "He hasn't jumped much under the lights, but I think this circuit has been great for him.

"It felt almost easy to ride him this evening compared to when we competed in the evening on week three. No matter what I did as third to go tonight, I was always going to leave the door open with a field of competitors like these behind me."