CIAN O'Connor took fourth place in tonight's (Friday) opening jump-off class at the Global Champions Tour show in Valencia, Spain with his new mare 'K Club Lady'.

The 30 year-old Irish rider was one of just six to jump a double clear from a starting field of 47, but was over one-and-a-half seconds off the pace of Canadian Olympic gold medallist Eric Lamaze, who streaked home to claim the 6,000 euro first prize with the stallion 'Hickstead'.

Ireland's Denis Lynch was in tenth place tonight with 'Lacroix', picking up four faults with a fence down in the 15-horse jump-off.

Valencia's rich 285,000 euro Global Champions Grand Prix takes place on Saturday afternoon.

Cian O'Connor at Valencia