EQUESTRIAN SPORTS: CAPTAIN DAVID O'Brien yesterday cemented his new partnership with the Minister for Defence's Mo Chroi when winning the 1.50m speed class at Maubeuge, France. writes Margie McLoone. The mare took the winner's prize of €4,600 when beating the French combination of Nicolas Delmotte and Marlou des Etisses by just over a second.

In Grand Prix action, Cian O'Connor finished fourth at Fontainebleau on Rancorrado, while a pole down in the second round robbed Niall Talbot of victory at Modena with Jean-Claude Engisch's chestnut mare Tequi d'I.

At home, the first of 21 legs of the national Grand Prix league was held in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny with the top points and prize-money heading north to Ballyclare following Harry Marshall's victory on Audi's Morningstar.

There was no luck for the six Irish riders at the Mitsubishi horse trials at Badminton with Michael Ryan faring best in 34th spot.