A World Cup day to remember for Irishmen Lynch and Breen

  • 26 January 2025, 20:26

Denis Lynch and Vistogrand jumping in the jump-off on the way to a second-placed finish in the five star World Cup in Amsterdam. Pic: Faolan Toal/FFT Media

In-form Denis Lynch and his brilliant 12-year-old Vistogrand have placed second at the CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ presented by EuroParcs.

After a scintillating afternoon of jumping in Amsterdam, the combination followed up on their runner-up finish in last night’s Grand Prix and produced another awesome double clear this afternoon.

With just six of the 40 combinations qualifying for the jump-off, Lynch and Vistogrand were second fastest in round two, just 0.69 seconds behind winners Marc Houtzager and Derrehof’s Dante.

Course builder Quintin Maertens’ first round track wasn’t, on paper, the biggest, but his use of strategically placed oxers and lines proved a genius piece of course building, producing a thought-provoking track that only six of the 40 could master despite a lenient time allowed.

Home rider Jur Vrieling worked a bit magic, giving his new partner Helwell du Chabus an accurate ride to produce the first clear of round two in 40.03. His lead was short lived as Houtzager came next with Sterrehof’s Dante.

Houtzager used the agility and neatness of the diminutive 17-year-old mare to his advantage around the twisting turns of the jump-off track to break the beam in 38.30 seconds and take the lead with two athletes remaining.

The in-form combination of Lynch of Vistogrand once again showed their class, cruising round the tight turns with an immaculate round of jumping in 38.99 seconds. It wasn’t quick enough to take top spot on the podium but, nonetheless, he was delighted with his stallion.

Vistogrand gets a well-deserved rub after his podium finish in Amsterdam. Pic: Faolan Toal/FFT Media

He said: “I’m delighted with him. We are really forming a partnership and he’s a really reliable horse now. It’s great for Mark” he added graciously, “fair dues to him, in front of a home crowd. We’ll try again in Bordeaux and see where we’re lying.”

Breen wins four-star Wold Cup in Abu Dhabi

In Abu Dhabi, Breen warmed up perfectly for his return to team Nations Cup action with victory on Luidam’s Warrior in the four-star Longines FEI World Cup Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.

Breen suffered career-threatening injuries last May, being placed in an induced coma and needing emergency surgery after suffering three fractures to his neck and spine following a fall from Highland President during the Grand Prix of Hamburg.

In Abu Dhabi, however, Breen and Luidam’s Warrior produced the only double-clear of the competition to win in a time of 43.36 seconds.

Breen and Highland President will join his brother Shane with Z7 Oilina, Mikey Pender with HHS Calais (ISH) and David Simpson with Mambo NR 5 B on the Irish Nations Cup team in Sharjah on February 2nd.