Ireland’s Mark McAuley and Miebello finish fourth in €200,000 Rome Grand Prix

An excellent performance from Co Louth’s Mark McAuley and the Eva Lundin-owned 13-year-old grey gelding Miebello, saw them take fourth place in today’s (Sunday) five-star Italian Grand Prix in Rome.

Mark McAuley and Miebello in action in Rome where they finished fourth in the Grand Prix

Thirty-year-old McAuley, who is originally from Ardee in Co Louth and now based in Switzerland, was one of 12 riders who made it into the jump-off. Drawn second last to go against the clock, he lowered a single fence with Miebello in a time of 46.76.

Dutchman Jur Vrieling and VDL Glasgow vh Merelsnest were the only combination to produce a double clear round and took the winners prize of €50,000. Italian riders filled the next two places, with Alberto Zorzi taking runner-up spot with Fair Light van T Heike (4 faults in 45.92), while Lorenzo De Luca finished third with Ensor de Litrange LXII (4 faults in 46.02). McAuley collected €20,000 for his fourth place finish to cap an excellent few days for the Irish rider. He had earlier scored a win in Rome on Thursday and also helped Ireland to a joint third place finish in the Italian Nations Cup.

Meanwhile in Germany, defending champions Billy Twomey and Diaghilev collected €12,000 when finishing fourth in the Hamburg Derby with the fastest four fault score in the first round. Slovenian rider Pato Muente took the winners prize of €30,000 with the only double clear of the competition aboard Zera.