PUISSANCE:NEAL FEARON, the quiet man of Irish showjumping, was the winner of Saturday's Land-Rover puissance, soaring over the huge red wall at 7ft 4in to win on Candileto 4. The bay Holstein-bred gelding jumped clear over five rounds.
"It was unreal," Fearon said. "It was an unbelievable achievement for that horse. I took him in the Horse of the Year show puissance last year and jumped to 2 metres and he hadn't been in one since."
Fearon (26), from Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, dislocated his shoulder at the Mullingar Grand Prix a month ago but had recovered in time to prepare Candileto for Dublin.
"I saw he had a lot of scope, but didn't imagine that he had this sort of scope," Fearon said. "Kevin Babington sent me the horse from the States and now we are aiming for Horse of the Year show in Birmingham and the puissance at the Belfast show."
Despite heavy rain, thousands of people turned out to watch the puissance, which saw Fearon and Belgian rider Patrick Spits with Sherlock K go head-to-head in the fifth round.
Swiss rider Theo Muff retired on the fourth round while Olympic hope Denis Lynch was eliminated after taking a crashing fall from Upsilon D'Ocquier and sliding along the ground on his right shoulder.
He managed to walk away, but it was a shaky moment for the Irish Olympic camp. Horse Sport Ireland boss Damien McDonald ensured that Lynch was checked over by the medics.
Lynch's fall did not deter him from catching his flight yesterday to Hong Kong, where he begins his challenge with an opening warm- up class on Lantinus today.
Michael Morrisey for the US and Ireland's Shane Breen and Dermott Lennon all faulted on the fourth attempt, leaving Spits and Fearon to do battle. Spits gave Sherlock every chance but kicked out a brick.
As Candileto soared over the imposing red wall, Fearon punched the air in delight. His prize money was €9,720.
Earlier Peter Charles took the red riband in the Dublin Stakes with Murka's Pom D'Ami where the 2007 Grand Prix winner, the grey mare Mo Chroí, ridden by Capt David O'Brien, took the runner-up slot. Marcus Ehning and Vulkano FRH was third for Germany while Lynch and Upsilon D'Ocquier finished fourth.
Robert Smith and Mr Springfield were unstoppable to win the Accumulator from Dutchman Piet Raymakers with Can Schijndel's Now or Never. Consistent Swiss Markus Fuchs, on the grey gelding Sylver II, finished third ahead of Cian O'Connor and Baloufina, followed by Jessica Kürten on Castle Forbes Cosma.
Kilkenny's Marion Hughes with HHS Fortana were fastest in the Bruce Shaw Partnership jump-off class, winning in 34.89 seconds. Galway's Andrew Bourns on Gowran Park posted a second placing, with John Floody on board Larkhill Cruiser taking third.
Amateur champion was Co Antrim rider Martin Wilson with Database, while Co Down's Vina Buller was runner-up with Alfred K.