O’Connor not giving up on medal

An upbeat Cian O’Connor last night refused to give up on his belief that he can make Wednesday’s medal decider, despite picking up eight faults in yesterday’s second qualifier.

His mount Blue Loyd lowered two related fences as they neared the finish yesterday in Greenwhich Park, having opened with a clear on Saturday, putting him among 46 to make today’s third round.

O’Connor pointed to himself for the error with the first fence, leaving the gelding with an impossible task when faced with the next obstacle.

“I would blame myself for being a little bit away from the first fence,” he said.

“But the horse was brilliant. If he had struggled, say, in the combination, it would have been different, but the eight faults is not a true reflection of the horse. He had jumped the hard stuff and that gives me great confidence.”

The 32-year-old said it was not a given that yesterday’s performance meant there was little room for error today if he is to be among the 35 to make the cut for Wednesday.

O’Connor is acutely conscious that if he is still standing this evening, he will meet his rivals on equal terms on Wednesday, with result sheets wiped clean and all riders starting on zero.

Unfortunately, Billy Twomey was among some big names losing out yesterday, the Corkman and Tinka’s Serenade adding eight faults to their opening-day four.

“Eight faults is never good enough,” said Twomey. “I am very disappointed, and I can’t lay the blame anywhere other than with myself.”