Ireland failed to keep up its run of good results in the early legs of the Nations Cup season when finishing eighth of 14 teams in Madrid on Saturday.
Though participation was designed mainly to test the performance of horses for possible Super League duty, Ireland nevertheless didn't make it through to the second round, with a first round score of 16 faults.
Ireland's only clear came from Mayo's Cameron Hanley and SIEC Concept, while next best was Marion Hughes and Heritage Transmission on four faults.
Cian O'Connor had three fences down with Rancorrado, while Capt. David O'Brien also recorded 12 faults, though both combinations were making their Nations' Cup debut.
The Spanish Nations Cup was won by the Netherlands on eight faults over two rounds.
Another Irish team finished third in the Danish Nations Cup in Copenhagen on Friday, while Ireland took equal second place in the opening leg of the Samsung Super League at La Baule, France last week.
RESULTS Copa de Naciones - Exmo. Ayto. de Madrid.
1 Netherlands 8 faults
2 Germany 8 faults
3= Great Britain 12 faults
3= Norway 12 faults
8 Ireland 16 faults (first round only)
Heritage Transmission; Marion Hughes 4/-
Rancorrado; Cian O'Connor 12/-
Mo Chroi; Capt. David O'Brien 12/-
SIEC Concept; Cameron Hanley 0/-
