IN the last 20 years, the Aga Khan Trophy, arguably the most famous trophy in show jumping, has remained on Irish soil just four times.

Last won by Ireland is 2015, is this the year Brazilian native Rodrigo Pessoa finally gets his hands on the gold masterpiece? Will it be his last chance as an Irish manager?

This year’s competition comes just 15 days before the FEI European Championships where the Irish team are seeking qualification the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Two years ago, Pessoa sacrificed the Aga Khan and it paid off when Ireland won gold at the Europeans.

12 months ago, most of the horses travelling to the World Equestrian Games were also spared and the team came agonisingly close to victory, just falling short at the final hurdle to finished joint-second with France.

However, no one can take away from the box office Mexican victory last year. The team of Federico Fernandez, Patricio Pasquel, Eugenio Garza Perez and Enrique Gonzalez captured Irish hearts with their sombreros and wild celebrations.

It was a dream come through for the nation to win their first ever Aga Khan and they hope to repeat that performance this year. The Mexicans have been in good form since, winning Nations Cups in Deeridge, Wellington, and Coapexan, Mexico. A huge lover of the RDS arena, Fernandez is the only returning member of last year’s victorious team.

Pessoa and High Performance manager Gerry Mullins have voiced that winning the Aga Khan is a priority this season and named the experienced team of Cian O’Connor (PSG Final), Darragh Kenny (Important de Muze), Shane Sweetnam (Chaqui Z) and Paul O’Shea (Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu).

Ireland will be up against teams from Britain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Sweden, Italy and Mexico. All but Mexico are chasing points in Division 1 of the FEI Nations Cup.

Ireland finished fourth in the opening round in La Baule, before being runner-up in Sopot when victory came down to a jump-off and eventually went to way of Belgium.

After another runner-up finish in Hickstead last weekend, Ireland lay in equal fifth place and need one more good performance in front of the home crowd next week to makre sure of their place as one of the seven nations through to the Nations Cup final in Barcelona, where the very last Olympic qualifying place will be up for grabs.

Winners in La Baule, the Swiss team includes world number one Steve Guerdat who will most likely ride Alamo in the Nations Cup. Beat Mandli has been named alongside Guerdat on the Swiss team for the European Championships and he brings his top mount Dsarie.

Sweden are on fire of late with three wins on the trot in Falsterbo, Aachen and Hickstead, as well as winning in Rome earlier in the season. They are not taking any of their European championship team to Dublin, but Angelie von Essen was on three of those winning teams and leads the Swedish team next week.

Britain are looking vulnerable at the bottom of the Division 1 table and after another disappointing performance in Hickstead last week, are sending a strong team to Dublin. Ben Maher and Scott Brash return to the venue and are a huge boost, and will be joined by Amanda Derbyshire, Emily Moffitt and Holly Smith.

France missed out on Olympic qualification at WEG and look to have their eye on a podium place at the European championships. As Dublin is not a points-scoring league, they have decided not to send a team on this occasion.

USA is another nation with a good track record in the Aga Khan, last winning in 2017, but sadly there will be no team this year, instead just two individual riders – crowd favourites Laura Kraut and McLain Ward.

Grand Prix fund increase

The Longines Dublin Grand Prix has eluded an Irish rider since 2014, when Bertram Allen and Molly Malone V stole Irish hearts. This year’s increased prize fund of €350,000 is a big bonus and Dublin should see more top names coming if they continued in the right direction.

Many Irish riders have the prestigious trophy on their wish list. Speaking to the Dublin Horse Show Magazine, Gerry Mullins, winner in 1986, said it was the highlight of his career. “At the time I think it had been 20 years since someone Irish won it [Dublin Grand Prix] so that time there was a lot of pressure. Not so many [Irish riders] have won it over the years.

“I suppose part of it, as an Irish person, is your main effort goes into the Nations Cup so therefore you can breathe a sigh of relief when it goes well and maybe the Grand Prix took a back seat. But for me, for sure it was winning the Grand Prix.”

In the 33 years since Mullins’ victory, only seven Irish riders have lifted the trophy. Will 2019 make it eight?

Darragh Kenny has been in incredible form of late, winning the five-star Grand Prix in Knokke and the five-star Global Champions Tour in Chantilly with Balou du Reventon.

That 12-year-old stallion will not travel to Ballsbridge as he is part of the European squad, but Kenny will bring Babalou (fifth in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen three weeks ago) and Romeo 88 for the individual classes, as well as Important de Muze for the Nations Cup.

“I would love to win the Grand Prix in Dublin, the increased prize money is amazing. I should have two or three very good horses this year [who will be aimed at the class],” said Kenny, who was a member of the 2015 Aga Khan winning team. Kenny won two classes at last years’ show and was crowned the leading rider.

After missing the Dublin Horse Show in 2018 due to coaching commitments, Cian O’Connor, winner of the Dublin Grand Prix in 2013 with Blue Loyd, will be hoping to make up for lost time.

American show jumper Laura Kraut is a huge fan of the main arena at Dublin and is crossing her fingers for Grand Prix glory. Based in England with her partner Nick Skelton for half of the year, Kraut was fifth with Cedric in 2010.

“I hear the prize money has increased for the Longines Grand Prix to €350,000. I fully intend to give it a go this year. The Grand Prix in Dublin has so far eluded me but I’d really like to win it,” Kraut said.

Other formers Grand Prix winners returning the Ballsbridge next week include Dutchman Kevin Jochems (2018), Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca (2016), McLain Ward (2010) and Bertram Allen.

Irish riders dominated the international classes last year, winning all five-star classes, except for the Nations Cup and Grand Prix.

Winner of three classes last year, Daniel Coyle isn’t crossing the Atlantic Ocean this season, but one youngster making the trip is Mayo’s Cormac Hanley. A nephew of former Grand Prix winner Cameron, Cormac makes his debut in the international classes following a season of top results.

Shane Breen and Billy Twomey were also among class winners in 2018 and they both return. Breen has not been on any Irish team duty so far this year, instead focusing on the Global Champion League competitions for the Miami Celtics. That has paid of for the Tipperary native, who has been on two winning teams in Miami Beach and Paris, and his team lead the rankings.

Mikey Pender (interview on page 20) was one of four who shared the spoils in the Land Rover Puissance in 2018 with Hearton Du Bois Halleux. He has since gone on to win the big wall competition at Liverpool and Bolesworth and the combination made history when winning the Hickstead Derby in June.

“We are hopeful for a good result in Dublin this year. He jumped 2.20m handy in Bolesworth and he feels in good form,” Pender said.

Girl power

Meath’s Elizabeth Power and Galway’s Jessica Burke were leading the TRM/HSI New Heights Champions Series after the leg at Tattersalls and therefore received invites to compete in the five-star classes.

Power, who is primarily an event rider but dabbles in show jumping with the brilliant 18-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Doonaveeragh O One (High Roller x Diamond Lad) was overjoyed to learn she would be fulfilling a lifelong dream in the main arena.

“I didn’t realise and only learned from the other riders that our results had counted towards getting a place at the international classes in the Dublin Horse Show,” she said.

“This is like a dream come true for me. Getting the chance to jump this horse in the main ring in Dublin... I can’t believe it’s actually happening. To have come back from the disappointment of not being able to fulfil his amazing potential as an event horse and now to realise the dream of doing the internationals in Dublin, it’s amazing.”

Burke, who balances her time between show jumping and her job as a teacher in Galway, had set this goal early in the season. “I’m so delighted to get the place,” she said.

“It was really my main aim for this year. We were in a good position heading into Balmoral but then we had an unlucky fence down so I knew it could have been anyone’s day [in Tattersalls]. We were very happy with the result and are looking forward to getting into the main ring.”

Susan Fitzpatrick was a member of two winning Nations Cup teams earlier in the summer and she will ride in the international classes, as will her teammate Ger O’Neill. For a full list of international entries see page 36.

Where to watch

Don’t miss a beat of international action when it kicks off next week. The Aga Khan Nations Cup, Landrover Puissance and Longines Grand Prix of Ireland will be broadcast on RTÉ, and you can follow The Irish Field on social media for live updates.