ONCE again the RDS pony qualifiers demonstrated the level of talent in this division. With the standard so high at the four qualifiers, all those who secured their place at Ballsbridge proved they have the ability to claim one of the coveted titles on offer.

Last year’s 128cms champion Tom Wachman has demonstrated his usual talent throughout the season and he has once again booked his ticket to Dublin with Parc Epic and Murphy Spartacus. Wachman’s form this season includes two wins in the Coolmore Stud Pony Premier and second in the CWD Pony Spring Tour. He will, no doubt, be gunning for another title.

Also securing her place at the Cavan round was Dale Adams, riding Ravara Mohawk. This rider put in a great performance and will be one to keep an eye on. This time last year, the Wexford rider spent 11 days in intensive care having suffered lacerations to her spleen following a kick from a horse. She will doubtless be looking to make up for lost time on this outing.

It will be a busy week for the Heffron family as both Charles and his sister Annabelle will be in action. Charles booked his place with Dandy, while Annabelle will be in action in the young rider arena.

No strangers to the Dublin Horse Show, Katie McEntee and Kilcreene Apollo also secured a ticket. This combination put in a great performance last year when taking fifth place in the championship. Bred by the Smithwick family in Co Kilkenny, Kilcreene Apollo is a veteran at the RDS having first competed there in 2009 with Shane Dalton. Another Smithwick progeny taking a place in the RDS is Kilcreene Basil. Under the command of Kian Dore, this combination will prove very competitive. Dore, who is trained by showjumper Paul Beecher, will also be in action with Drumcaghey Jacko. This combination has had a good run up to Dublin, with a win in the Coolmore Stud Pony Premier series at Ard Chuain followed by victory in the 128cms Championship at Mullingar International.

Lucy Morton secured her place with Tynnan Tuttle Pip and this combination will be looking to improve on last year’s performance having narrowly been beaten in the championship.

Two very experienced ponies to look out for are Toorboy Tommy and Parc Giggles. The first will be under the skillful command of Aine Shortall and the latter will be partnered by Coen Williams.

Ryan Ruane and Mickybo will be ones to watch. Although this is a new partnership, Mickybo is no stranger to the Dublin Horse Show and has brought success to many riders over the years.

138CMS

The current 138cm RDS Champion, Amy Reape, will also be looking to retain her title having qualified Ti Chip at the qualifier at Cavan.

No stranger to the RDS, Alex Finney will be making her return having qualified Coltstown Dun Cruiser. This combination is in form having taken the 138cms 1.10 Grand Prix Final in Mullingar. In the past, Finney has tasted success in the RDS in the 128cms division, finishing fourth in the championship in 2016. The Co Down rider has doubled her chances of success having also qualified Dolly Du Carel.

Winner of the CWD Spring Tour, Francis Derwin booked his place with Ruby Brown. This combination has proved very consistent with two wins in the Coolmore Stud Pony Premier series.

Another familiar face in the RDS, John McEntee will be making a return with Hubba Bubba. In 2014, Hubba Bubba finished fifth in the championship with Emma McEntee. McEntee has increased his chances by also qualifying Air Display.

Ryan Sweetnam and Never Last Spartacus also secured a place and they will be ones to watch having been successful place in national leagues. They performed well in the qualifiers, taking fourth place in Mullingar and the win in the final round at The Meadows.

Another very experienced combination to consider is that of Rhys Williams and Sligo Lux to Queeney. This pairing booked their place when winning the round at Barnadown. Williams will also compete in this section with Dynamo D’Euro.

Making their debut and looking to make her mark at Dublin are Evie Quirke and Miss Mull. They qualified at Barnadown.

Róisín O’Sullivan and Triplicate will have no shortage of expert advice as their trainer, Paddy O’Donnell, a former winner in the international arena in Dublin, will be on hand. O’Donnell will also be keeping a watchful eye on his other student, Orla Queally, who will be riding the six-year-old Knockroe Clover Mor in the 148cms six and seven-year-olds.

148CMS

Joint leading pony rider of Dublin Horse Show in 2016, Jason Foley booked his place with More Clover. Foley has demonstrated good form on the national circuit this season, taking a win in the Coolmore Stud in Cavan and performing well in the HSI viewing trial at Barnadown. Foley will also be one to watch in the six and seven-year-old class having qualified Shadow’s Dance.

Following on from a successful CWD Pony Spring Tour, recent European silver medallist Kate Derwin booked her place in the 148cms division at Cavan with Master Stevie G. Derwin has was a member of the gold medal-winning European team in Hungary last week riding Cul Ban Mistress, with who she also won the Grand Prix at Opglabbeek.

Ciaran Nallon is also a rider in form and he has both national and international experience. The Mayo rider was also part of that winning Irish team in Hungary. He has booked his place to Dublin, in this division, with Flintstone B and Dibidoe. At home, Nallon is having a great season as he dominates the Coolmore Stud Pony Premier series and clocked up a series of wins at Mullingar International in both the pony and horse arena. If his form is anything to go by, he will be one to watch. Nallon will also be in action in the young rider arena with two mounts: Bally Fair Deal and Belfields Captain.

Placed sixth last year in the championship, Cora Sharkey and Who’s Arco are set to make a return. This partnership is clearly in form having won the qualifier in Mullingar and The Meadows.

Molly Hughes Bravo has also booked her place in this division. This rider has no shortage of family support and she will be putting her best foot forward having qualified her mother Marion’s Carrickaduff Pet. Molly will also be in action in the 128cms division and the 148cm six/seven-year-olds with MHS Limited Edition.

Wexford’s Harry Allen, the newly crowned pony European champion, qualified Aughnashammer at Barnadown and this combination has certainly had a good season, also being part of the Irish squad at Hagen and Opglabbeek. At Hagen the pairing clocked up a win and second place in a two-phase. Allen also takes his European winning mount Cassandra Van Het Roelhof and no doubt the pair will be hard to beat.

Mullingar’s Robyn Fagan and Another Destiny will also be ones to watch. Another Destiny is a seasoned performer at Dublin, competing there since 2010. Robyn herself has also plenty of ring experience having competed from an early age. She has also qualified Stoneman Lacy in the 148cm six/seven-year-olds. It will be an intense week for the Fagans as Chloe has also qualified in the young rider division.

The 148cms six/seven-year-olds has attracted a large entry and, as in previous rounds, there is a very good standard in this young pony division. Ones to keep an eye on in this section are Ryan McDonald and Jasmines Holly. This combination have proved extremely consistent at this level since last year.

Last year’s RDS Champions Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Keatingstown Hunky Dory (7yo) booked their place and, since winning the championship last year, have continued to clock up results.

A prolific winner in the pony arena, Leah Stack will take on this division with Orchid’s Coryan. Also with no shortage of experience are Robyn Moran and Parkroe Dundee.

YOUNG RIDERS

1.15M

Robyn Moran and Coolminga Inspector Royal will be out to win. Since taking over Coolminga Inspector Royal, Moran has proved very consistent at this level at 1.20m.

Mark Finnerty has qualified two horses: Emma and All Action. All Action has been very consistent in the six-year-old ISH Studbook Series and Emma at 1.20m level. Trainer Darryl Walker will be on hand to offer advice.

Cian O’Connell finished third in the qualifier at Mullingar with Besser Von Tulisa. This combination has barely knocked a pole at this level since the start of the season.

Lee Carey and Ukato Cruise qualified at Cavan and although they have only been together for a short time, they have proved very consistent at this level.

Daniel Fitzgerald had a great run of results in the senior arena from the start of the year and he will be one to keep a close eye on having qualified CSF Super Nova, as will Abbie Sweetnam with One and Only Spartacus.

Winner of the young rider championship at Munster Stadium Jumping, Max Wachman and Cesha Old will be up for the test. This combination won the qualifying round at The Meadows, Lurgan. Max will also be in action in the 138cms ponies having qualified the very experienced Scarlett’s Billy the Kid and Youghal Paddy.

1.25/1.30M

Jake Hunter and Sandra Duffy’s Caliva Charca MM Z booked their place at the qualifier at Mullingar. The Australian rider has had a great season and proved very competitive at Mullingar International when winning the opening international class. The Duffy family is well represented in this division as Sandra Duffy’s Captain Martin will be under the command of the very capable Hannah O’Shea.

Chloe Fagan is an experienced rider and, although new to this level, she has an impressive record in the pony arena.

The Mullingar rider qualified Caricello, the former Grand Prix mount of Catriona Fallon.

Isabel Fitzpatrick and Ulster finished fourth in this class last year and they will be looking to improve on that performance. Fitzpatrick is no stranger to success in the RDS having won the 1.15m championship last year with HHS Fair Game.

Other strong contenders include Thomas Foley and Kingsborough Verdiva, and Grace McHugh with Berlious Van De Kapel.

Winners of the qualifier at The Meadows, American rider Rosalie Biedron and LVS Wizard will be looking to continue this good show of form. Biedron is based at Greg Broderick’s Ballypatrick Stables.

So too will Olivia Roulston, who qualified Dermott Lennon’s former Grand Prix mount Valent. Although only under Roulston’s command since April, the pairing have gelled well.

Winner of the qualifying round at Mullingar, Elisa Schweiger O’Connor and Oilean Dunlop will no doubt be looking to take a title. They put in a great performance winning the qualifier by almost three seconds. On a similar note, Thomas Foley took the qualifier at Barnadown with Kingsborough Verdiva with almost a two-second advantage in what was a very competitive event.

1.35/1.40M

Winner of the Hagen Grand Prix with Porsha, Tyrone’s Anabelle Heffron (13) will be a hot favourite having qualified at the round in Mullingar. Trained by Johnny O’Connell, she put in a impressive performance in Hagen, beating an international field of 54 riders.

Laois rider Jennifer Kuehnle is a familiar face in the RDS and one never to dismiss. This year she qualified Ballistic M2S. Jennifer has proved very consistent in the RDS over the years, with both ponies and horses.

Tim MacDonagh has qualified both Tick Tock Tina and Hollypark Galloway in this division and this Galway rider will have no shortage of guidance having be paired with mentor with Dan Walsh in the pilot Young Rider Academy.

Raphael Lee is certainly in form having won the 1.35m Connaught Grand Prix League in Loughrea and Duffy’s Equestrian. The Galway rider will be well up to the challenge as he takes it on with MB Daddys Dollars, and he also rides Captain Marko in the 1.25m class.

Also showing good form are Cian Harrison and Wannahave. This pairing proved they are up to the task when taking second place in the 1.35m Connaught Grand Prix in Tubberbride.