TWO Irish riders featured in this evening's (Friday) Grand Prix Qualifier competition at Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates.

Meath-based Cian O'Connor slotted the Irish-bred gelding 'Larkhill Cruiser' into second place behind the host nation's Mohammed al Harji riding 'Shakira', while Kilkenny-born Marion Hughes claimed seventh place with 'Crispen'.

Yesterday (Thursday) O'Connor also had two top five places at the four-star show, taking another Irish-bred, 'Arabella', to fifth place in the 1m40 Two Phase competition, and recording a runner-up spot with 'Larkhill Cruiser' in the 1m45 Two Phase, behind Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Sharbatli and 'Columbia'.

Cian O'Connor