PAUL DARRAGH took a big step towards next year's Volvo World Cup final with victory in the European League qualifier in Seville yesterday.

Darragh (43), riding Cera 1, clinched the eighth of 15 qualifiers with the fastest of three clears in an eight-horse jump-off.

Darragh's win, worth 20 points, took him to 19th spot in the European League, led by Holland's Piet Raymakers.

He is the only Irishman in the top 20 battling for places in the Gothenburg final next May.

Darragh, with a clear in 38.8 seconds, had a one-tenth-of-a-second advantage over Dutch runner-up Henk Van De Pol on Juriquilla. Spain's Leonardo Medal was third with the only other clear on Escorpio.

Britain's two representatives Tim Stockdale, on Toggi Santa's Echo, and Guy Goosen, on Electrik, both went out in the first round with eight faults.

Michael Whitaker is Britain's top-placed rider in the league in seventh spot.