THREE qualifiers held at three different venues in May and June decide which horses will go forward to compete in the young horse classes at this year’s Dublin Horse Show.

Considered to be the most prestigious competition on the national circuit, as well as the best opportunity to showcase future talent, places are highly sought after with many yards planning their year around qualifying dates.

In the five-year-old division there are 12 places up for grabs at each of the venues making a startlist of 36 for the Flexible National Championships. These 36 then compete in two classes in Simmonscourt on Thursday and Friday to earn a place in the finals on Sunday morning in the main arena.

Last year’s champion was LMG Enterprises’ Gone Girl, ridden by Vincent Byrne. Byrne is once again in the mix this year having qualified Rachel Moxham and Maddie Brennan’s home-bred mare Belle Mai (Luidam x Furistos Trump) at the first qualifier in The Meadows where they finished third.

The first qualifier was hotly contested with 117 combinations lining out. The winner that day was Vincent Burton’s home-bred mare Drumrankin Ebony, by Concorde out of Drumrankin Ruby, by Marcuzzi, who was guided to the win by Olivia Roulston. Williams Sport Horses Ltd’s Belgian-bred mare, Euphorbia V Twelve Oaks Z (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Bently Van De Heffinck) was ridden into the runner-up spot by Rhys Williams.

The second qualifier was held in Barnadown. Once again a large field of 117 combinations lined out to battle it out for the dozen places on offer. Course designer John Doyle set them a challenging track. Eoin Brennan proved the best on the day. Guiding his family’s home-bred mare GCS Angelina (Aganix du Seigneur x Vigo D’Arsouilles) to first place.

Katheryne McCracken’s Mallbeck (Air Jordan Z x Kashmir Van Schuttershof), bred by Brian Clinghan, was ridden into second place by Shane Treanor in 35.97. Harry Wood rode ESI Crystal (Ganesh Hero Z x Arabella) into third place in 36.20 for owners Milestone, and breeder Ennisnag Stud.

Susan Fitzpatrick picked up two qualifying places in Barnadown when fourth with her own Belgian-bred Touchable (Untouchable 27 x Calvaro Z) and ninth with the French-bred stallion Jad’or Du Lavoir (Diamant De Semilly x Canturo) .

The final qualifier in Mullingar was won by Rhys Williams riding Williams Sport Horses Ltd’s gelding KPCM Hugo Boss (Plot Blue x Luidam), bred by Glenmore Stud. This victory, over a second and a half quicker than their closest rival, would earmark them as one of the favourites heading into Dublin.

Williams is another rider double handed heading to the RDS. In addition to Hugo Boss, he also has Euphorbia V Twelve Oaks Z (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Bently Van De Heffinck) who qualified at The Meadows.

Eamonn Walsh’s Galwaybay Winningmood (Winningmood Van De Arenberg x Mermus R), bred by Justin Burke, finished as runner-up, while Charles O’Reilly Hyland rode his own Penelope 31 (Mylord Carthago x Diamant de Semilly), bred by Sean and Ronan Judge, into third place.

Rhys Williams and KPCM Hugo Boss, winners of the RDS five-year-old qualifier at Mullingar in June \ Claire Nolan Jumpinaction.net

Six-year-old championship

The six-year-old championship is always a crowd pleaser and this year’s line-up does not disappoint. Each of the three qualifiers offered 12 places, giving a 36-strong line-up for the finals in Dublin.

Last year’s winner aboard Laurina, Leah Stack is once again well mounted here with another mare bred by the great late Noel Cawley in Luisa (Luidam x Flex A Bill), who won the three-year-old loose jumping competition at the RDS in 2021.

The pair seem to be coming into good form just at the right time; winning the DAFM Studbook Series six-year-old final in Balmoral in mid-July.

Winners of last year’s five-year-olds, Vincent Byrne and Lorraine MacGuinness’ ever-consistent mare Gone Girl VB (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Cobra) are included in the start list and have to be ranked as one of the favourites.

Another that catches the eye is Ronan Rothwell’s home-bred stallion Boleybawn Alvaro (Dominator Z x Crown Z), ridden by the other member of the Ballypatrick super-duo, Niamh McEvoy.

McEvoy, who competes in the five-star internationals this year, earned her place in the six-year-olds with Alvaro at the first qualifier in The Meadows where she finished runner-up to Nicholas Connors and Jump The Gun (I’m Special De Muze x Master Imp). Ronan Rothwell’s Alvaro won the silver medal at last year’s World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken.

Connors will also make his debut in the internationals classes, both earned their spots by finishing in the top two of the Plusvital Premier Grand Prix Series after the penultimate leg in Balmoral.

At the second qualifier in Barnadown it was Michelle Kenny’s Belgian-bred gelding Milla Van De Kapel (Mithras De Roger x Franco) with Brendan Murphy in the saddle who took the top spot.

KM Sporthorses’ Ballinaguilkey Special Star (Big Star x Ramiro B), bred by John And Barbara Walsh and ridden by Jason Foley, secured second place, while Langara Ventures’ One Day Maybe (Bentley Van De Heffinck x Kannan), bred by Patrick Hogan and ridden by Kian Dore, took third.

At the final qualifier in Mullingar, Sven Hadley and his own gelding Maximum Numero Too (Aganix Du Seigneur x Numero Uno), bred by Eamon McArdle, dominated in the 79 strong field.

Michael Ormond’s home-bred gelding Kylemore Cool Hero (Diamant De Semilly x Cardento) was ridden by Linda Moloney into second place, while Gemma Phelan and Rory Costigan’s home-bred mare GRC Mercedes (Luidam x Chacco Blue) took third.

Four-year-old championship

The four-year-old championship for the award of the Seamus Hughes Trophy and the Mo Chroi National champion title is decided on the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of the show. The first two days are qualifiers for Saturday’s final in Simmonscourt.

Judges will give points out of 200 for Future Potential, Rideability and Jumping Technique/Natural Ability. Each of the qualifiers offered eight places in the Dublin final, meaning 24 combinations went through to the final.

At the first qualifier it was William Greene’s home-bred mare Edentrillick Twisted Pixie, by Kentucky Van’T Ruytershof out of Haiti’s Van’T Klavertje Vier (Bentley Van De Heffinck), that was ridden to first place by Hannah Agnew. They were awarded the highest mark of 80.5.

Hannah Agnew and Edentrillick Twisted Pixie won the first four-year-old qualifier at The Meadows \ Tori O’Connor

Brian O’Malley’s home-bred stallion Emerald Quay (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Catoki) with Ita McDermott in the saddle took the runner-up spot on a score of 79.62. Kerry Taggart rode her own stallion L. Tango (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Harley VDL), bred by Fergal Rice, into third place with 78.5.

Michael Roche rode his own home-bred Lockdown Lucky (Tyson x Ars Vivendi) into fourth on a score of 78, while Lee Carey guided Ciaran Howley’s Sligo Candy Cornet (Sligo Candy Boy x Cornet’s Stern), bred by Padraig Howley, into fifth with 77.5.

In the second qualifier 97 horses went forward to battle it out for the eight places on offer. German judges Marc Hahne from the Hannoveraner Verband and Philipp Baumgart selected BP Best Wishes, ridden by Niamh McEvoy and owned and bred by Greg Broderick, as the eventual winner having scored a mark of 83.75. She is by Agnix Du Seigneur and out of BP Masterpiece, by Cruising.

Ciaran Howley’s Sligo Celtic Candy (Sligo Candy Boy x Harlequin Du Carel), bred by Padraig Howley and ridden by Lee Carey, took the runner-up spot on a score of 80.75. Shane Quinn guided the Dutch-bred Piamante (Komme Casall TN x Verdi) into third on a score of 80.5 for owner Cathy Cuffe. Miriam Queally’s PLS Monkeal Callie (Echonix x Pacino), bred by Clive Cathers and ridden by Orla Queally, were awarded 79.25, for fourth place.

At the final qualifying round in Mullingar it was Lorna Casey’s Lough na Phuca (OBOS Quality x Touchdown), bred by Charles Hanley, who earned the highest score of 83.5 for first place. Second went to John Byrne’s home-bred Tangelos Touch (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Captain Clover) with young rider Tadhg McKiernan in the saddle, on the same score of 83.5.

Harry Wood took third and fourth place with Bridlebourne Stables’ Dutch-bred BP Paloma (Emerald van t Ruytershof x Zirocco Blue VDL) on 83, and Matt Calderwood and GBBS INT LTD’s Mix De Blues (Aganix du Seigneur x MHS September Song), bred by Micheal and Sinead Brennen, on 79.8 respectively.

The highest points earned over all three qualifiers was by BP Best Wishes and Niamh McEvoy. They earned a score of 83.75 in Barnadown so may be the one to watch in the final, but with about two months more experience under their belts since these youngsters qualified it is still all to play for in the finals.

Seven/eight-year-olds

The only international class for young horses aged seven (1.40m) and eight (1.45m), the CSIYH1* takes place on Wednesday and Friday, with the final in the main ring on Sunday.

The final is restricted to the top 50% of horse and rider combinations based on points gained over the competitions earlier in the week. Points are awarded as follows: 100 points for first place, 99 for second, 98 for third et cetera.

There were nine places available at each of the three qualifiers. These horses go forward to compete in Dublin alongside the horses entered by international riders at the show.

Molly Hughes Bravo and Maurice Devlin’s seven-year-old HHS Ice Flo (Iceman De Muze x Cyrano 145), bred by Kevin Meagher, won the first qualifier in The Meadows to secure their ticket. Runner-up that day was Castlefield Breeding Farm’s Belgian-bred gelding Mister Qerly Z (Mosito VH Hellehof x For Pleasure) ridden by Jason Foley.

Third was Oliver Glancy’s in-form gelding Clonterm Obolensky (Cornet Obolensky x Lux Z), ridden by Clem McMahon and bred by Brian Duff. This partnership most recently won the 1.50m Premier Grand Prix in Balmoral.

At the second qualifier it was Ballypatrick’s Leah Stack who came out on top. She guided GBBS Int Ltd’s seven-year-old gelding Luigi, by Luidam out of Simplify (OBOS Quality) and bred by Micheal Condon, to the win.

Britain-based Jessica Burke took the runner-up spot aboard her own French-bred gelding, Good Star du Bary, by Rock n Roll de Semilly. Junior James Brennan riding his mother Sinead’s MHS Everything (Quidam Junior I x Cavalier Royale), bred by the late Ita Brennan, captured third place, while Kian Dore and Carl Dore’s French-bred gelding Helssinki (Calvaro Z x Windows VH Costersveld) were fourth.

The final chance to earn a place at the Dublin Horse Show was at Mullingar. The victor here was Ennisnag Stud’s seven-year-old Dutch-bred stallion Mendoza VDL (Harley VDL x Cardento), ridden by Shane Dalton.

Jack Ryan and Northlawn Farm LTD’s eight-year-old Belgian-bred mare Soblensky vh Scheefkasteel Z (Sir Obolensky Z x Diamant de Semilly) finished in second place, while MBF Be Blue (Chacco Blue x Highvalley), owned and ridden by Jason Higgins, were third.