MULLINGAR-born Joseph Murphy, making his Badminton debut, finished best of the Irish in 27th place after going clear in this afternoon's (Monday) show jumping phase at the four-star event.

Riding Kevin Monroe's Irish bred Cruising gelding 'Electric Cruise', the 35 year-old moved up eight places from his overnight position.

Meanwhile, fellow Irish rider Elizabeth Power was reported to be out of danger after her heavy fall on the daunting cross-country course yesterday with 'Kilpatrick River'. Liz's brother, the Grand National-winning jockey Robbie Power, told irishracing.com today that she will remain under observation at Frenchay Hospital for the next 48 hours.

"She had a small bleed to the right side of her brain and had bruising to the other side,” Robbie said. “She is in a normal neurological ward at the hospital but will be under observation for 48 hours. The doctors are not worried about her but she is very sore.”

Other Irish finishers today were:
45th Michael Ryan/Old Road (ISH) 84.1
48th Aoife Clark/Master Crusoe (ISH) 89.0
50th Louise Lyons/Murphy's Miracle (ISH) 94.4
53rd Mark Kyle/Step In Time 109.2

Ninety-two combinations were selected to compete at Badminton Horse Trials this year, and 56 finished all three phases. The overall winner was New Zealand's Mark Todd and 'NZB Land Vision'.
 

Joseph Murphy