Cian O’Connor strikes again at Olympia

OLYMPIC bronze medallist Cian O’Connor won his second major class of the week at the London International Horse Show yesterday.

Irishman O’Connor and the 13-year-old Splendor followed up Wednesday night’s Christmas Pudding Stakes victory by taking the Santa Stakes in impressive fashion.

They were more than a second clear of runner-up Penelope Leprevost after seven horses from a 27-strong field made the jump-off.

French challenger Leprevost and Nice Stephanie edged Portugal’s Luciana Diniz (Fit for Fun) into third, with leading British contender Michael Whitaker (fourth) and London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton (Heracross) fifth.