IT will be hard to top the thrill of last year’s Aga Khan Nations Cup competition. A return to the five-star international classes for the first time since 2019, the 2022 Dublin Horse Show was magical from start to finish and Ireland’s win in Friday afternoon’s feature class lighted the spirits of equestrian fans all over the country.

It was a first win since 2015 for the home nation and Michael Blake’s first as team manager. The manner in which it played out – victory in a jump-off after a spectacular round from Conor Swail – added to the excitement, while there were also two Irish-breds (Kilkenny and James Kann Cruz) on the team.

For Max Wachman, it was a first start and a first win at the venue, while Swail and Shane Sweetnam were also winning for the first time. They were joined by 16-time veteran Aga Khan rider Cian O’Connor who, after jumping a crucial double clear, was winning for the fourth time.

Going to battle

So who will Michael Blake go to battle with this year? The Clare man is at the helm as chef d’equipe since December 2019 but the 2022 Dublin Horse Show was his first chance to compete for the Aga Khan after two Covid-enforced cancellations. This year he brings back the experienced duo of Shane Sweetnam and Cian O’Connor, plus he has named Daniel Coyle, Michael Duffy and Mikey Pender on the five-man squad.

For Coyle, Duffy and Pender it is a first time-call up for the most anticipated Nations Cup squad of the year and all three have been in fine form this year, jumping clear rounds for Ireland. Coyle was part of the winning team in Langley, Canada with Gisborne VDL, the same horse he rode at Rotterdam when Ireland finished a close second.

He was joined in Rotterdam was Galway’s Michael Duffy (not to be confused with Mayo’s Michael G. Duffy) who rode Cinca to a flawless double clear on that occasion and that helps him earn his first call up. Mikey Pender was the star performer when Ireland won the five-star Nations Cup of Rome for the first time ever back at the end of May when he jumped three clear rounds with HHS Calais (ISH).

Sweetnam will ride the in-form James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising, bred by Shane Connolly), who finished runner-up in the five-star Grand Prix of Dinard last Sunday; O’Connor has opted for Nicole Walker’s talented nine-year-old mare Eve D’Ouilley who was impressive when jumping clear in Rotterdam.

Daniel Coyle has been named with Ariel Grange’s Legacy (clear last week at Hickstead), while Duffy will ride Hibernia Horses’ grey mare Cinca 3 and Pender is due to line out with Marion Hughes HHS Calais (Cavalier Royale x OBOS Quality, bred by Ita Brennan).

Kilkenny-based Pender had a sensational 2022 Dublin, winning seven classes overall – three of them international, which saw him crowned the leading international rider. He also has young horses qualified again this year.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Pender commented: “It’s very exciting, I am lucky that Calais has been in brilliant form and to get the opportunity to jump the Aga Khan is something you always dreamed for and hopefully it will go the right way.

"Michael told me to plan towards it and that’s what I’ve done; when you eventually get the phonecall to say you are in the team, it’s a fantastic feeling.”

Mikey Pender and HHS Calais jumped treble clear in the CSIO5* Rolex Nations Cup of Rome \ Helen Cruden

Joining Ireland in Dublin are Belgium, France, Britain, The Netherlands and Switzerland - all part of the European Division 1 league – while Mexico and Spain also line out.

So far this year, Ireland finished fifth in their opening points scoring round of the competition in Sopot, Poland before running very close in Rotterdam, eventually finished second. The final outing before Dublin was just last Friday at Hickstead in England where they finished a very close second, and could have been in a jump-off for the win were it not for an elimination under the FEI blood rule.

That leaves them in fourth place in the overall standings going into Dublin, and safe, with the best seven teams to qualify for the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.

However, in non-Longines FEI Series, Ireland have finished on the podium 11 times this year, including wins in Rome and Langley and they will be gunning for back-to-back glory at the RDS.

Michael Duffy will make his debut in the Aga Khan at Dublin next week. Picture in Doha riding Cinca \ Stefano Grasso

Strong contenders

The Swiss have been in fine form this season, winning their home event at St Gallen before taking victory in Falsterbo and they are taking no chances for this final leg, sending another strong squad of former world number ones Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs, as well as Pius Schwizer, Bryan Balsiger and the 2022 Grand Prix winner Edouard Schmitz.

What’s more, Fuchs brings his top horse Leone Jei who, one presumes, will be on the Swiss team at the FEI European Championships in Milan in September.

It is great to see Britain return to Dublin with a team after not attending in 2022 and they come to Ballsbridge full of confidence after a superb win at their home leg in Hickstead. They also finished second in Falsterbo and Aachen this year. Chef d’equipe Di Lampard fields Harry Charles and Tim Gredley – both part of the Hickstead team – as well as Harry’s younger sister Sienna Charles, Robert Whitaker and Samuel Hutton.

The French put Ireland to the pin of their collar last year and return with another firing squad, while the Dutch – who won their home leg in Rotterdam - send a squad which includes young sensation Sanne Thijssen with her top horse Con Quidam RB.

The show is normally a firm favourite of American riders but sadly there are no representatives for 2023. The nation, who won team silver at the Tokyo Olympic Games, have not yet qualified for the Paris 2024 Paris Olympics so all concentration is currently on the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, where there is a spot up for grabs, and the Pan American Games in October which would be their last chance to qualify.

Not part of the European Division 1 League but also lining out in Dublin will be Mexico - heroic victors in 2018, of which the following celebrations will long live in the memories of those present.

Grand Prix contenders

The Longines Grand Prix of Ireland proved a thrilling end to the 2022 show and it was Switzerland’s Schmitz who stood atop the podium with Gamin Van’t Naastveldhof ahead of Ireland’s Conor Swail (Count Me In) and Shane Sweetnam (James Kann Cruz). Schmitz will be aiming to defend his title again next week.

Swail, ranked in the world’s top 10 for over a year now (currently 10th), will return to Ballsbridge this year with Mannon Farm’s 10-year-old stallion Nadal Hero & DB and Theo 160, while the Aga Khan hero remains in North America this year.

Other past Grand Prix winners among the entries include Cian O’Connor (2013), Bertram Allen (2014) and Shane Breen (2019). Allen arrives in top form after a recent five-star Grand Prix win in A Coruña with Pacino Amiro (ISH).

Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz, pictured at Dublin last year, are back on the Aga Khan squad next week \ Laurence Dunne Jumpinaction.net

Shane Breen went close in a five-star already this year and will be looking to go one better with Cuick Star Kervec, and he is joined in Dublin by his brother and fellow in-form West Sussex resident Trevor Breen who takes the home-bred gelding Highland President.

Jack Ryan jumped a double clear at Hickstead last weekend aboard BBS McGregor (ISH), as well as being on the winning team in Rome earlier in the summer, so he comes to Dublin in good form, and he has also qualified a young horse after a flying visit to the final qualifier at The Meadows.

Young guns

After his Aga Khan win in 2022, Max Wachman will return to the main arena again this year and has been in good form, part of the gold medal-winning Young Rider squad at the FEI European Championships in Gorla Minore last month. Max’s brother Tom (18) will make his five-star debut at Dublin, having won junior team gold and individual silver in Gorla Minore. It will be his third ever five-star show and he will ride Max’s Aga Khan winner Berlux Z.

European Young Rider champion Seamus Hughes Kennedy has also secured a ticket to the five-star for the first time in his career., bringing his gold medal winner ESI Rocky (ISH) and Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH).

Qualifying through the 1.50m Showjumping Ireland Premier Series in the top spot is Kevin Gallagher. The Ballypatrick-based rider has been in good form this year, winning the open leg at Barnadown and he will ride two Irish-breds at Ballsbridge in DHF Lift Off and BP Hybernia. Taking the second ticket is Jonathan Smyth who has also had a great year, winning classes at both Bolesworth and Hickstead on a recent trip to England.