Andrew Bourns was best of the Irish when taking fifth place in Saturday afternoon’s 1m50 Fidelity Investments Classic at the four-star American Gold Cup meeting in North Salem, New York.

Alan Wade’s course proved too much for almost all of the 52 starters, with only two making it to the jump-off. Both failed to go clear in the head-to-head contest, but American Catherine Nicole Tyree on Bokai got home faster than compatriot Lucy Deslauriers on Hester, with both combinations picking up four faults.

Another American, Tracy Fenney, took third having had just a single time fault in the opening round on Mtm Reve du Paradis.

For the remainder of the field it was a luckless afternoon. There were two falls and seven retirements, and more than half of those who finished the course failed to get home within the time allowed.

Bourns was last to go with the nine year-old Hyakari and by the time he entered the ring thirty-seven combinations in a row had failed to go clear since Deslauriers became the second clear of the contest.

The Irish rider knew that a clear would give him a place in a three way jump-off, but one plank on the floor meant they had to settle for fifth after posting the second-fastest four-fault round.

Shane Sweetnam had gone close earlier with Main Road, being clear until catching the front bar at the last fence, finishing on five faults. Sweetnam also got around with five faults on his other mount Cobalt, and finished just outside the top ten with both.

Mike Dunne

Fidelity Investments Cup 1m50
1. Bokai/Catherine Nicole Tyree (USA) 0/4 34.53
2. Hester/Lucy Deslauriers (USA) 0/4 34.79
3. Mtm Reve du Paradis/Tracy Fenney (USA) 1/- 77.41
4. Andretti S/Laura Kraut (USA) 4/- 71.73
5. Hyakari/Andrew Bourns (IRL) 4/- 73.14