Rider: Austin O’Connor (47)

Horse: Colorado Blue (Jaguar Mail x Rock Kind), bred by Kate Jarvey

Owner: The Salty Syndicate

Groom: Francesca Denning

Form: Perhaps the most exciting of the Irish chances in Pratoni is Austin and ‘Salty’ after their 13th-place finish at last summer’s Tokyo Olympic Games and eighth place finish at Badminton in May.

A cross-country machine, this pair are often on the back foot after dressage but if they can keep their score to a low 30, they have every chance of fighting hard as their cross-country speed is their biggest asset. Their show jumping has been clean this year, including a great clear at Badminton. Will be aiming for a top-10 finish to back up Tokyo form.

Rider: Susie Berry (26)

Horse: Monbeg By Design (Pacino x Puissance), bred by Fiona Molloy

Owner: Helen Caton

Groom: Crisy Salmon

Form: A senior championship debut for Berry who is fast making a name for herself at the top of the sport. The 10-year-old Monbeg by Design has solid outings at internationals this year, most recently finishing ninth in the CCI4*-S at Burgham International on their dressage score (34.40).

This pair won’t be in the lead after dressage but a flawless cross-country jumping record means they have every chance in climbing in the second phase. Susie made her first Badminton and Burghley starts this year and is a rider with big ambitions and one to watch.

Rider: Padraig McCarthy (45)

Horse: Fallulah (Fidertanz x Di Versace), bred by Michael Norris

Owner: Amanda and Nicholas Boyle, Diane Brunsden, Peter Cattel and Padraig McCarthy

Groom: Jess Elliott

Form: This experienced pair have the ability to be well up the leader board after the first phase; their personal best of 24.9 at Pau five-star last season left them in a top position and, among a few low 30s, they also produced a 25.1 at Burgham in July where they finished eighth.

Another with a near-perfect corss-country record, the coloured poles can be Fallulah’s downfall, picking up 20 faults at Badminton earlier in the year. In with an excellent chance if she can stay careful on the final day.

Rider: Felicity Ward (32)

Horse: Regal Bounty (Orestus VDl x Senang Hati), bred by Miriam De Feu

Owner: James O’Callaghan

Form: A last minute call-up this week, Felicity and the 11-year-old gelding make their championship debut in Pratoni after four solid international results in 2022, including 15th at Pau CCI5*.

On recent scores, they will be a little bit off the mark after dressage, regularly scoring mid to high 30s, however they are another of the Irish to boost an excellent cross-country record and were clear over the show jumps in two of their four international starts this year.

Rider: Sam Watson (36)

Horse: SAP Talisman (Puissance x All Royal), bred by Rosemary Ponsonby

Owner: Hannah Watson and Julia Watson

Groom: Hannah ‘Sparkles’ Watson

Form: A ‘talisman’ of the Irish team at this stage, Sam will know what he has to do at yet another championship and will have memories of the 2018 silver medal in his mind. An exciting 11-year-old who made his championship debut at the Europeans last year, Talisman will need an improvement in the dressage mark to be near the top end after the first phase, but Sam knows how to fight hard across the country and feels this horse is capable of a big result for the team.