IRELAND'S Cian O'Connor stayed well within the prize money bracket when finishing fifth in the five-star Barcelona Grand Prix in Spain tonight (Friday)

The sole Irish rider at the event, 31 year-old O'Connor was one of just three competitors to go clear in the first round, but a single mistake on his second attempt aboard the 11 year-old gelding Carpe Diem left him adrift of Canadian winner Eric Lamaze and the mare Atlete Van T Heike, who recorded the only double clear round of the contest, which featured 52 starters.

Nevertheless, Meath-based O'Connor collected 9,000 euro for his fifth place, while the Canadian picked up 12,000 euro for his victory.

Yesterday, O'Connor had runner-up results in consecutive competitions, first with the grey eight year-old gelding Ballymore Eustace in the big two phase class, and then with Carpe Diem in the La Vanguardia Trophy, beaten on both occasions by Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano.
 

Cian O'Connor