Incredible Coyle records second elite triumph in six days

Continent-hopping Derry man in fine form ahead of Olympics

Daniel Coyle registered a second five-star success in five days by scoring in a 1.55m speed class in Rotterdam tonight (Thursday).

Riding Incredible, the 11-year-old gelding he owns in partnership with chief patron Ariel Grange, Coyle beat a stacked field to claim top spot.

This win comes hot on the heels of an elite class triumph on Farrel at Spruce Meadows in Calgary.

Following another podium finish on Sunday, the Derry man flew to Europe to join the Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping Team competing in the latest leg of the Longines Leagues Of Nations tomorrow (Friday).

Earlier in the day, the Longines world number 12 gave a run-out to his Olympic mount Legacy, the mare that will also be his partner in tomorrow’s Nations Cup, going clear in the first phase of the five-star 1.45m two-phase class before withdrawing the 14-year-old, with impending exertions in mind.

Coyle was all-in when it came to tonight’s competition, however. The draw wasn’t favourable, with the Ardmore native fifth into the arena on his speedy and athletic grey but it didn’t matter.

Incredible was foot perfect over the 15 jumping efforts and was very pacy too, expertly guided from the saddle. They jumped clear in a time of 63.81 seconds that no one could get close to, French rider Kevin Staut bagging second on Vida Loca Z with a time of 65.05.

Leopold van Asten (NED) completed the podium, having ridden VDL Groep Nino du Roton.

Cork’s Shane Sweetnam, who is the highest ranked Irish rider at number nine, claimed fourth-place prize money on Irandole du Flot

Ireland currently top the League Of Nations table as a result of a runner-up finish in the opening leg in Abu Dhabi and a dramatic jump-off victory in Ocala. With the St Gallen leg cancelled due to incessant rain, Michael Blake’s charges are already assured of a place in the final in Barcelona next October but will be bidding to maintain their remarkably consistent run in all Nations Cups to date.

Coyle and Legacy are joined on the team by Mark McAuley, with the Irish Sport Horse GRS Lady Amaro, Sweetnam with RR Combella and Cian O’Connor, riding Eve D’Ouilly.

BREEDING

GRS LADY AMARO (ISH) – 2013 mare by Amaretto Darco (BWP) out of Legal Lady (TB) by Over The River (TB). Breeder: Denis Hickey, Co. Wexford. Owner: S.n.c McAuley. Rider: Mark McAuley (IRL).

• (Photos by Morgan Froment)