Foley stars at Fontainebleau

Tom Foley helped make it three in a row for Ireland in the French Pony Nations Cup in Fontainebleau on Saturday when posting a double clear with Crown Jewel.

The Clare rider also placed fourth in yesterday’s grand prix with the fastest four faults in an eight-pony jump-off, a performance that saw him pick up the shows leading-rider award.

Foley featured on the victorious teams in 2010 and 2011 and his faultless performance on Saturday with the Dutch-bred pony proved crucial, as Ireland’s four faults total saw them pip Britain by just a single fault.

Paraic Kenny (Grey Ross) — who, like Foley also savoured victory in the same competition in the past two years — had two-round scores of four and zero, as did Matt Garrigan (Dr Spot), while Molly O’Shea (More Clover) jumped four and clear.

Further north at the three-star show in Lummen, Belgium, Tipperary’s Shane Breen and Zarnita produced a double clear to place fifth.

On the domestic front, Cian O’Connor was pleased with his victory on Aussie import Da Vinci’s Pride in the HSI/Blue Grass Spring Tour contest in Mullingar on Saturday, though he had to take a back seat in Ennis yesterday, when second to William McDonald on Castlecomer Q.

“He’s a new horse I picked up in the past couple of weeks. He has already jumped big classes in Australia and is by an Australian thoroughbred. I’m using the HSI/Blue Grass Spring Tour to develop the horse and get the hang of him before I travel away in May,” said O’Connor.

Daniel Coyle’s fifth place with Special Leap yesterday saw him extend his lead in the league on John Floody, with just two rounds remaining, Warrington next Saturday, and the final on Sunday in Coilog, Co Kildare, where points-and-a-half will spice up the title battle.