Riding Eleonore Paschoud and Yves Bouvier’s stylish bay gelding Antello Z, 40 year-old Hanley, who earlier in 2013 returned from a two year injury lay-off that threatened his career, was one of 13 through to the jump-off from a starting list of 39. The final round featured five of the riders in the current Longines World Top Ten.

Hanley was unfortunate to have a single rail down on his second outing, to finish eighth, with local hero Kevin Staut claiming the 115,500 euro first prize with a classic double clear on the 14 year-old grey mare Silvana Hdc.

Meanwhile at four-star Salzburg, Antrim-born Jessica Kurten collected eight faults with VDL Zapatero in her first round of the Grand Prix and didn’t make it to the jump-off. The Austrian Grand Prix was, however, won by the famous Irish Sport Horse Castlefield Eclipse, ridden to victory by Switzerland’s Paul Estermann with one of only three double clear rounds recorded in the contest.

In Opglabbeek in Belgium, 18 year-old Michael Duffy from Turloughmore in Galway and Zarnita placed eighth in the two-star Grand Prix, which was won by Holland’s Timothy Hendrix and Very Nice.