Daniel Coyle finished best of the Irish when taking 9th place in tonight’s $35,000 Longines FEI World Cup Qualifier at the three-star Palm Beach Masters meeting in Florida.

The in-form Coyle and Grafton were one of twelve combinations from the field of 97 who went clear first time out, but eight faults in the jump-off meant they had to settle for a ninth place finish.

Cian O’Connor also qualified for the jump-off after a clear round with Seringat, but elected not to continue, having done enough to qualify for Sunday’s event.

Shane Sweetnam, who had two time faults in the opening round on Chaqui Z, and Darragh Kenny who had four faults with Cassini Z in one of the faster times, also made the top-40 cut for Sunday.

Canada’s Ian Millar took tonight’s qualifier with Dixson, ahead of American Beezie Madden on Breitling LS, with another home rider Laura Kraut third on Zermonie.

Mike Dunne