Daniel Coyle and Tienna shared top spot with American Leslie Howard and Donna Speciale after both pairing’s finished in identical times in last night’s Canadian Utilities Cup at Spruce Meadows.

Howard had taken the lead in the jump-off in 36.44 and stayed in front until Coyle, as second-last rider, threatened to nab the class but the clock stopped at the same one-hundredth of a second.

America’s Kent Farrington then went in chase of the leading duo but fell short by less than half a second, which was good enough for third place.

“I had a touch on the first part of the combination of the first round, so going into the jump-off I knew there were a few places I may have had to be a bit more cautious of,” said the Irish rider. “In the jump-of I was a bit slow to one and again I was careful over the double – but from what I felt out there I knew I could start to get going after that and start to take chances. I really made up a lot of time over those last four fences.”

Now ranked inside the world’s top 50 riders, Coyle, who won the previous day’s Scotiabank Cup with Cita, has been named in Irish manager Rodrigo Pessoa’s provisional squad for the European Championships in Sweden in August.

Mike Dunne