Jean-Claude Vangeenberghe scored Belgium's first victory in the Dublin Grand Prix when claiming the honours in a four-way race against the clock in the RDS main arena yesterday afternoon.
But there was no Irish involvement in the jump-off, with Harry Marshall best of the home side in seventh after a last fence mistake in the first round.
"It was my fault really," Marshall said after the 12-year-old mare, Ado Annie, collected four faults at the second part of the final double.
"I thought I had enough power when I jumped in, but actually I didn't. I left her with quite a bit to do."
Marshall earned himself a €4,500 pay cheque for his day's work, but that was minor compared to the €40,000 taken home by the Belgian. The 42-year-old, currently 22nd in the world rankings, produced only the second clear in a lack-lustre class that saw four retirements, two eliminations and two non-starters.
Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst was first to record a faultless round and the Germans then doubled their chances when Ulrich Kirchhoff, team and individual gold medallist in Atlanta nine years ago, was also clear.
Frenchman Stefan Lafouge made up the quartet for the race against the clock.
Pollmann-Scheckhorst led off the timed decider with a galloping clear that stopped the clock on 39.14 seconds, but that was instantly bettered by Vangeenberghe, who sliced off almost a full second to take over the lead.
There was a 10-minute break in the action while Stefan Lafouge's horse, Gabelou des Ores, was re-shod after losing a shoe, but the Frenchman's luck ran out at the second last and, when Kirchhoff was clear in 42.45 for third, Lafouge was left bringing up the rear of the foursome.
Vangeenberghe, who also scored in a 15-horse jump-off for Saturday's Dublin Stakes, boosted his takings still further when lifting the €3,000 on offer to the leading international rider. Billy Twomey, fourth behind Britain's Michael Whitaker in yesterday's Speed Championship, earned €1,500 as leading Irish rider.
There had been high hopes that there would be an Irish rider at the top of the line-up for Saturday's Land Rover Puissance, but although there were four from the home team through to the fourth round, none of them cleared the final 2.10m wall. Nick Skelton and the stallion Russel were the only ones to leave all the bricks untouched for an outright win that left the Briton richer by €11,300.
The trio of Cian O'Connor, Capt David O'Brien and John Whitaker, who had shared the top prize 12 months ago in a thrilling finish, were left in a six-way divide of second place.
Also flying the flag for Ireland were Harry Marshall and Shane Breen, with Frenchman Pierre Jarry making up the sextet.