IRELAND'S Capt. David O'Brien scored a notable victory on the opening day of the Nations' Cup show at Falsterbo in Sweden this evening (Thursday) when seeing off a star-studded field to win the Grand Prix Qualifier on the Irish-bred 'Mo Chroi'.

Seventh to jump in a 54-strong startlist, the Athlone native set a scorching time of 53.06 seconds on the Minister for Defence's Cruising mare, and only Germany's Philipp Weishaupt came close with 'Leoville', while US rider Rich Fellers and another Cruising offspring, the stallion 'Flexible', slotted into third.

Co. Down's Dermott Lennon took fifth place with Woods Rosbotham's 'Hallmark Elite', also on a clear round. Lennon added a runner-up place to his tally with Allan Davidson's mare 'Tolett' in the earlier Derby Qualifier at the five-star Swedish show.
 

Capt. David O'Brien