IRISH riders maintained their superb run of form at the 2024 Dublin Horse Show, with a double of wins on day two at the RDS.

Paris Olympian Daniel Coyle and the 11-year-old gelding Incredible proved unbeatable in the feature Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes 1.60m jump-off class, posting a super fast clear in 34.91 seconds that put pressure on those who followed in the 11-horse jump-off.

Always a crowd favourite, Coyle’s win prompted a joyous roar from his adoring fans.

Italy’s Giulia Martinengo Marquet came closest to catching Coyle, but had to settle for second place with a clear in 35.26. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Cordial filled third place in 36.78, just ahead of Wexford’s Bertram Allen in fourth aboard Caprisco with the only other double clear in 37.28. America’s McLain Ward did beat the winning time with Contagious (33.26), but a fence down left him in fifth.

“It’s a great feeling. He’s a different horse to Legacy,” said Coyle of Incredible and his stablemate, now enjoying a well-earned rest after jumping three clear rounds at the Paris Olympics.

“We have him a while, but we’re still finding him out and he’s finding us out and where he’s going to wind up we don’t know, but he’s for sure improving. As reserve for the team, if they need him, he’s there. He’s jumping incredible the last two days. I had to qualify for the Grand Prix and thankfully he’s a ticket for there now.

“He’s lively, but when he goes into the ring, he’s a different animal. He just looks at the jumps. He’s done a few Nations Cups and it always helps to do two rounds under pressure and, if you make a mistake in a round, you can go back in and fix them. They all always bring you closer to the horse for jump-offs like this.”

Speed Derby

The earlier Speed Derby served up a hugely exciting competition, with Co Down’s Conor Swail getting his first win of Dublin Horse Show 2024. Swail and the 12-year-old gelding Theo 160 jumped clear in 81.18 seconds, which left them fractionally ahead of the in-form Francis Derwin with Parvati AEG in second (81.74). Athlone’s Derwin and the nine-year-old mare had taken victory in the opening international competition at the RDS on Wednesday. Third place in the Speed Derby went to French rider Julien Gonin with Estrella De La Batia, just ahead of Mikey Pender in fourth with the Marion Hughes-bred HHS Fortune (Catoki x Ard VDL Douglas).

“I was very happy with the win,” said Swail. “It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden in the Speed Derby. It’s just full throttle the whole way around. We had a bit of an early draw, but Theo always pulls one out of the bag for me. He is super-fast and he’s deadly careful and he doesn’t mind all those funny ones, jumping through the water or anything that’s odder than normal. It’s always great to win at Dublin Horse Show and it was a fun round.”