Cian O'Connor's Ireland's sole entrant in the Arab League World Cup Grand Prix took third place with the Irish-bred gelding Larkhill Cruiser at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
Meath-based O'Connor, who has now successfully taken part in three legs of the Arab World Cup League, was one of eleven through to the second round from a starting field of twenty seven at the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club grounds, but had to concede victory to Syria's Ahmed Hamco and his World Equestrian Games mount, the former Ben Maher ride Wonderboy III.
Hamco was the only rider to achieve a double clear round in the Grand Prix, with Saudi Arabian runner-up Khaled Al Eid, like O'Connor, incurring four faults first time out.
