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.