SOME 11 Irish riders will fly the flag at the four-star TheraPlate UK Liverpool International Horse Show which takes place from December 28th to 31st in England.

Now in its fourth year at the M&S Bank Arena, the show, run by Nina Barbour, the show is well known for being much than just horses with entertainment in the form of LED FMX Bikes, acrobat displays, live music performances and a Shetland Grand National.

Fresh from winning the Puissance competition at Olympia last week, Mikey Pender will line out in the class on Saturday evening with Hearton Du Bois Halleux. The combination jumped 2.20m at the venue last year to share victory with Matt Sampson and will be out to defend that title.

Other Irish riders travelling to take on the big wall include Nano Healy (KMS Clintland), Daniel McAlinden (Chapristi), Wesley Ryan (Larthago), Captain Geoff Curran (Bishops Quarter) and Michael Whyte (Amaretto).

Shane Breen won the Grand Prix in 2018 with Golden Hawk and they are back to defend that title next week. Breen also brings his Dublin five-star Grand Prix winner Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker as well as the young talent Colmar.

A five-star winner in Olympia last week, Anthony Condon brings SFS Aristio, SFS Vincomte and Zira VH Kapelhof Z for the speed classes, while England-based Richard Howley and two-time Grand Prix winner Billy Twomey will also be vying for the top honours.

Daniel Coyle will make his way back to Europe from his base in Canada and takes Donjo, Kabab Fravanca and his former Dublin Puissance winner Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (ISH).

The Grand Prix takes place at 7pm on Tuesday, December 31st, followed by a New Year’s Eve party.