A BUMPER entry of 11 Irish riders are among the confirmed runners for next week’s eventing showcase at the Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire. A further two are close up on the wait list, making this probably the strongest ever Irish representation.

Spearheading the contingent are Badminton veterans Joseph Murphy (Sportsfield Othello), Camilla Speirs (Portersize Just A Jiff), Clare Abbott (Euro Prince) and Jim Newsam (Magennis)

All four have completed the event, while fellow internationals Aoife Clark, Sarah Ennis, Jonty Evans, Austin O’Connor, and Michael Ryan are teaming up with first timers, Fernhill Adventure, Horseware Stellor Rebound, Cooley Rorkes Drift, Kilpatrick Knight and Dunlough Striker.

The remaining duo of Cathal Daniels (Rioghan Rua) and Dominic Furnell (Ballycahane Flower Power) are tackling Badminton for the first time, as are the wait list combinations of Ciaran Glynn (November Night) and Mark Kyle with Jesmond Justice..

Having taken over the design mantle from Giuseppe della Chiesa at the end of last year, British designer Eric Winter has a wealth of experience under his belt. The local man was responsible for the much admired tracks at Blenheim, and has also designed at the Asian Games. Having served as a technical delegate at Badminton, he knows the lie of the land well and he completed as a rider in 1991.

BIG FENCES

Unsurprisingly, Winter is keen to put his own individual stamp on the course, and in doing so has reintroduced many of the big, bold, rider-frightening fences of the past. Cleverly, he has combined these with the familiar Badminton features, creating new questions at the lake, the ‘staircase’ and the Irish Horse Gateway Huntsmans Close.

British international rider and television pundit Harry Meade has already walked the course, and speaking to The Irish Field he commented: “It will be tough enough, with more changes than I expected.

“We have seen a gradual return of some of the traditional features, and it’s good to have the staircase back at fence five, because it brings some relief to largely a flat course. The lake (8) is imposing, with a big fence and drop in, and the new Hildon pond (15) also looks difficult.”

One of the more notable changes occurs at the Irish Horse Gateway Huntsman’s Close. Traditionally a late question, this has been made easier this time around, and the corners that used to be there are now sited in front of Badminton House coming in at fence 21. These, according to Meade, are “big, and will leave no room for error.”

Overall it appears that the main questions crop up comparatively early on the route, and the track could be quite forgiving for tired horses galloping home.

In this European championship year, the quality among the entries is high. Olympic champions Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam return to defend their 2016 title, but will face a strong challenge and none more so than from team-mate Ingrid Klimke, who rides her 2015 runner-up Horseware Hale Bob.

Other past winning riders include four-timer Sir Mark Todd (Leonidas and NZB Campino), as well as Andrew Hoy, Paul Tapner and Oliver Townend. The latter is named with three horses including the Irish-breds ODT Ghareeb and MHS King Joules.

Among the other fancied contenders are Australia’s Chris Burton (TS Jamaimo and Graf Liberty) as well as Andrew Nicholson, who incredibly is still seeking his first Badminton crown. Gemma Tattersall would prove a popular winner with the Irish thoroughbred Arctic Soul, while Kitty King also looks well represented with Ceylor Lan.

IRISH RIDERS

It would be a fairy tale if Ireland’s Camilla Speirs could gain another top 10 finish with the diminutive Portersize Just A Jiff.

Placed ninth last year, he has not run since completing in sixth place at Pau last October.

Jonty Evans is another with big ambitions. As the highest placed Irish team member at the Rio Olympics, he has left no stone unturned in terms of preparation, (see A64).

Last, but by no means least, Zoe Kavanagh is the final Irish rider travelling to Badminton, and she is breaking new ground by becoming Ireland’s first representative in the Mitsubishi Motors Cup (Badminton Grass Roots).

Kavanagh had to qualify in England for this prestigious class, which is confined to horses without points, and ridden by restricted riders.

Taking place over the Tuesday and Wednesday before the main feature kicks off, Kavanagh rides Reminisce One in the 90 strong BE100 sector.