Hat-trick of Irish wins on opening day of the Dublin Horse Show at the RDS

Irish Show Jumping riders have made an excellent start to the 2018 Stena Line Dublin Horse Show – winning all three international competitions on the opening day at the RDS in Ballsbridge.

The feature Sport Ireland Classic saw Offaly’s Darragh Kenny come out on top with the Ann Thompson-owned Balou Du Reventon. They were among a massive 19 combinations who jumped clear in the opening round and took the winners prize with a clear in 35.83 seconds in the jump-off. Mark McAuley finished as runner-up with Miebello (36.46), ahead of Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat in third with Hannah (37.11).

Along with his win in the Sport Ireland Classic, Darragh Kenny also chawked up two runner-up finishes, including in the 1m45 Minerva Stakes By Dublin Airport Central, where Cork’s Billy Twomey collected the winners prize. Twomey and the Joe-Flynn-owned Irish Sport Horse Ardcolum Duke finished half-a-second ahead of Kenny in second with Cassini Z, while Britain’s Harriet Nuttall came home in third with Silver Lift (ISH).

Derry’s Daniel Coyle got Ireland off to the perfect start in the opening Alpes D’or 1m45 speed class, when he partnered Tienna to a clear round in 51.48 to take the top prize of €7,425. Irish riders filled all of the top seven places, with Darragh Kenny finishing second with Billy Manjaro (51.82) and Bertram Allen third with Calafrieda (52.21). The top six also included Cameron Hanley, Clem McMahon and Capt Geoff Curran

The Speed Derby By Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge and The Stablelab Stakes are among the highlights at the Dublin Horse Show on Thursday, while The Aga Khan Trophy is up for grabs on Friday in the Longines FEI Nations Cup of Ireland.