First round error keeps O’Connor out of the hunt in Olympia grand prix
Earlier in the week, O’Connor had taken a brace with Splendor, a horse he only returned to riding in the last fortnight, having sold him two years ago to Egyptian pupil Ahmed Tolba. In last night’s grand prix, a single first round error kept the Olympic bronze medalist and the 13-year-old gelding out of the battle for major money, which saw Germany’s Marcus Ehning (Sabrina) the victor.
O’Connor knew Saturday’s World Cup was a step up in class for the relatively-inexperienced Ulano and so it proved, with the Meath-based rider among two of the first three riders to tackle the course who retired. Dutch Olympic team silver medalist Marc Houtzager, on Sterrehof’s Tamino, came out best in an 8-horse jump-off, to earn his first World Cup win.
