CORK'S Billy Twomey was Ireland's sole international winner on the first day (Wednesday) of the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, but other Irish riders made a respectable showing with top ten places.

Twomey won the Speed Stakes with the grey Irish-bred Cavalier Royale mare 'Cavinem', beating fellow-countryman Conor Swail on 'Coulthard 2' by just over two seconds, while Alex Duffy took fourth place on 'Courttown'.

Cian O'Connor brought out his new mount 'Shooting Star' for the Speed Stakes and placed sixth, while Capt. David O'Brien and the Minister for Defence's 'Mo Chroi' claimed tenth.

The USA's Lauren Hough took the the Sports Council Classic trophy with 'Blue Angel', while Irish Aga Khan squad member, 23 year-old Nicola FitzGibbon, placed fifth with her own 'Puissance'. Malahide's Conor Swail was once again in the money with a tenth place on the eight year-old stallion 'Lansdowne'.

America also took the first class of the morning, the Failte Stakes, with Laura Kraut showing a good turn of speed on the Darco mare 'Dona Evita', but Capt. David O'Brien kept the Irish flag flying with a third place on the Irish-bred Heartbreaker gelding 'Drumiller Lough', while Trevor Breen took ninth on 'Andino Z'.

Tomorrow, Thursday, as the tension builds for Friday's Aga Khan clash, the main arena at the RDS will see the Speed Derby, The Power and Speed class, and the Six-Bar competition.
 

Billy Twomey