Drawn first to jump of the eight teams competing in the opening round, Ireland came into today’s class as third favourites as per Equiratings.com – behind the number 1-ranked team, USA, and Germany.

Both Ireland and the USA produced three clears in the first round, with Cian O’Connor, making his 20th Aga Khan appearance, opting not to jump in the first round over the course designed by Tipperary man Alan Wade, the designer chosen for the course for the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 – the first Irishman to achieve the honour.

Three First Round Clears for Ireland

Thirty-one-year-old Daniel Coyle with Farrel gave Ireland the perfect start with a clear round. His brother, Jordan, riding Chaccolino matched him, before the third-line rider, Shane Sweetnam, aboard Coriaan Van Klapschuet Z also went clear. With three clears in the opening round it was decided that Cian O’Connor and Kentucky TN would not jump.

The USA team, which started the competition as favourites, also ended the first round on a score of zero. Interestingly, their anchor leg, Laura Kraut and Baloutinue decided, unlike the Irish anchor rider Cian O’Connor, to compete in the first round. The US combination had four faults, but with one score being discarded, they still ended round one with a clean sheet.

Britain, who have previously won the Aga Khan Trophy a record 27 times were third after the first round, having collected one time fault each from Robert and John Whitaker.

The Swiss had four faults, Germany and Belgium eight, last year’s winners, The Netherlands, were on a score of 10, while France brought up the rear with 17 faults.

Aga Khan Goes Down To The Wire

In the second round, Ireland jumped last of the eight teams, with the USA second-last to take on the 1.60m course.

Double clears came from the Derry brothers, Daniel and Jordan Coyle, aboard Farrel and Chaccolino respectively. Shane Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z had one fence down for four faults, while Ireland’s anchor combination, Cian O’Connor and Kentucky TN, also knocked a pole in the final line of jumps, much to the disappointment of the excited and expectant home crowd in a packed Laya Arena.

Karl Cook and Paris Sellon also delivered double clears for the USA, before Natalie Dean and Mr Bombastic had four faults. Laura Kraut and Baloutinue, who had knocked part A of fence 10 in the opening round, made no mistake this time and delivered a clear to heap the pressure on Cian O’Connor the final rider to enter the arena.

Riding a fresh horse in Kentucky TN, who hadn’t jumped in the first round, the Irish combination knocked 10b leaving the USA as winners of the 100th anniversary edition of the Nations Cup of Ireland. The Number 1-ranked show jumping team won the Aga Khan Perpetual Trophy for a ninth time, their first success in the class since 2024.

Final Result

The final result saw Robert Ridland’s side finish on zero, ahead of Ireland on 4 faults. Switzerland took the third spot on the podium with a faster 8 faults than the Germans who were fourth.

Britain was fifth on 10 faults, Belgium on 12, The Netherlands finished with 19 faults, with the French, who certainly had an off day, last on a total of 37 faults.

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Riding King Kannan GP, who also won on the opening day, the Derry rider took victory in the Reynolds Logistics Speed Derby with a clear round in 83.46 seconds.

German Richard Vogel, with Chember 3, took the runner-up position, also producing a clear in 84.03 seconds.

Anthony Bourquard from Switzerland, riding Flanagan Semilly, were also clear in a time of 86.92 seconds.

Karl Cook & Foxy De La Roque win Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes

The Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes later in the afternoon went to American Karl Cook and Foxy De La Roque. The combination were clear in the opening round, before producing the fastest clear of 37.11 seconds in the jump-off.

Kevin Staut, the former World Number 1-ranked rider from France, was second aboard Ever De Turan, producing a clear in 38.43 in the jump-off round.

Former Ireland Chef D’Équipe, Rodrigo Pessoa from Brazil, completed an all-International podium, as Major Tom stopped the clock at 38.72 in round two, his second clear round of the class.

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There will be two International Competitions in the Laya Arena this afternoon: The Speed Derby, sponsored by Reynolds Logistics, which begins at 1.10pm, and the Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes at 3.30pm is the second international class in the Main Arena.

That's a wrap on Day 1 of the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show
From the ceremonial opening of the brand-new Laya Arena to world-class sport, it's been an unforgettable start to the week.

Bring on Day 2! #GallagherDublinHorseShow #RolexSeriesEquestrian pic.twitter.com/F5U2YC5joh

— Gallagher Dublin Horse Show (@DublinHorseShow) August 5, 2026

Ireland had a clean sweep of classes in Laya Arena yesterday as Jordan Coyle took victory in two classes.

The Derry rider claimed the Laya Arena Stakes with Cordiamo, while he followed up later in the afternoon when winning the Sport Ireland Classic aboard King Kannan GP – a class home combinations dominated, taking six of the top-seven places.

Francis Derwin and Parvato Aeg had opened the show with a win for Ireland in the Speed Stakes, sponsored by Heathman Farm.

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The 10-year-old gelding Cordiamo jumped a clear round in a highly impressive time of 55.84 seconds to win the Laya Arena Stakes.

Swiss Anthony Bourquard was over four seconds slower in the runner-up position, as he and Flanagan Semilly also went clear, clocking 60.49 seconds.

Former Team Ireland Chef d’Équipe, Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, took third. Riding the 10-year-old Giorgio D’Ellipse, they were clear in 61.06 seconds to complete the podium.

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Francis Derwin and Parvati Aeg were first to have the Irish tricolour raised in the Laya Arena, as they claimed the 1.45m Speed Stakes on Wednesday afternoon.

Their clear round in a time of 54.21 seconds was enough for the win, ahead of Tipperary’s Tom Wachman with Obora’s Laura, who were also clear, but in a slower time of 56.40 seconds.

The podium was completed by France’s Robin Lesqueren and Galax du Rouet – they also left all poles in places, stopping the timer in 57.21 seconds.

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The McNerney Cup 1.45m in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows was contested by twenty-five combinations as they took on the challenge of a technical course designed by FEI course designer Santiago Varela.

Nine of the competitors made it through to the second round after producing clears in the first round.

Both Tom Wachman and Daniel Coyle were among the nine to go against the clock in the second round.

Wachman and Hawaii delivered the fastest fault-free round of the jump-off, stopping the clock in 38.87 seconds to claim victory.

Saudi Arabian rider Abdulrahman, aboard Heartbeat W, took the runner-up spot, with Juan Manuel Luzardo (IRI) and Guizmo du Riou completing the podium.

Daniel Coyle and VDL Mourinho took fourth.

Top 10 McNerney Cup 1.45m

1. Tom Wachman (IRL) & Hawaii
2. Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) & Heartbeat W
3. Juan Manuel Luzardo (IRI) & Guizmo du Riou
4. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & VDL Mourinho
5. Tiffany Foster (CAN) & Steadfast
6. Brian Morton (CAN) & Baton Rouge
7. Jos Verlooy (BEL) & Etundel de Marocy
8. Vanessa Hood (ISR)  BW Graphik
9. Carly Campbell-Cooper (CAN) & U2 Westleven Z
10. Blythe Karolyi (USA) & Theo Duc T&L Z

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With 16 combinations competing in the class, just 0.13 seconds separated the winner and runner-up, Germany’s Katrin Eckermann and Iron Dames Cascajall NRW, who clocked 34.90 seconds.

France’s Cédric Angot and Gandor du Fief secured third place with a superb clear round in 37.04 seconds.

With Eckermann leading when Nallon entered the arena for the jump-off, he knew exactly what was required. The Irish rider threw everything at the challenge aboard Megalon K. Every distance was attacked, every turn committed, and the huge-striding gelding devoured the ground. As they flashed through the timers, the scoreboard revealed the unbelievable 34.77 seconds.

“I’m super proud of our mare, she tried her heart out and with the whistles from hospitality I knew I was in with a chance as I galloped to the last.

“If I hadn’t been watching Katrin’s (Eckermann, eventual runner-up) round I don’t think I’d have taken the risk!”

Pender & Lynch

Fresh from last week’s LGCT Grand Prix runner up in Cannes, Michael Pender looked determined to continue his incredible form aboard HHS Cyprus. Unfortunately, the Barnes red oxer claimed another victim and four faults in 44.69 seconds ended his challenge.

For Denis Lynch, the challenge was effectively over before it had begun. A rail at the very first fence aboard Chicago immediately put him on the back foot, eventually finishing on 4 faults in 38.88 seconds.

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Sweetnam started the day as a hopeful for an American Gold Cup hat trick after winning the historic title in 2022 and 2024 with James Kann Cruz. He and the 12-year-old Irish-bred gelding (Kannan x Cruising) stopped the clock just over a second shy of the winning time in 35.97 to finish second.

The highlight of the summer in North America

“James Kann Cruz was great, Greya [the mount of winning rider, Kent Farrington] is just a faster horse,” admitted Sweetnam. “Even going in, I knew it would be a long shot. I watched Greya’s round and knew that it probably wouldn’t be caught but I’ve already had about six or seven second-place finishes this year, so I was going to give it a go no matter what. I didn’t feel I left much out there.

“For North America, this is the highlight of the summer,” he continued. “Since I’ve come over from Ireland, it has been a special class held at brilliant venues.”

15-year-old Farrel puts Coyle on podium

Fellow Irish Olympian Daniel Coyle piloted Farrel to third in 36.49 for owner Ariel Grange. The podium finish was a momentous one after the now 15-year-old (VDL Cardento x Argelith Stakkato) was sidelined for six years from an injury as a 9-year-old.

“Every round on this horse feels like a bonus because there was a point we never thought he would jump again, let alone double clear in a five-star,” said the world no. 11. “The American Gold Cup is an iconic event for riders from any country, and I’m thrilled to get a piece of it.”

Kent Farrington and Greya win

World number 1 Kent Farrington is setting a new standard with his magnificent mare Greya. Together, they won a record sixth five-star grand prix inside a year to lift the iconic American Gold Cup and claim their share of $340,000 in prize money.

Farrington and the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Contender) established the standard over Alan Wade’s opening round as the first of an eventual six clear. On theme for the record-breaking day, Wade designed his 11th American Gold Cup track this week.

Third success for Farrington

Greya set the pace yet again in the jump-off at 34.75 seconds, which would stand as the winning result. Farrington has now won the American Gold Cup three times, previously in 2016 and 2020.

“My biggest concern today was going to be measuring the speed it was going to take to win,” said Farrington. “You don’t want to be chasing what somebody else can do—you have to know what your horse’s best possible round is. I tried to put down a solid effort where they were going to have to do something special to beat me, and luckily it worked out.”

The American Gold Cup was first awarded in 1970 and has been won by some of show jumping’s most legendary names throughout its 55-year history.

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The event, part of the League Of Nations Final, saw the 25-year-old Kildare rider partner the Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais – bred by the late Ita Brennan – to victory.

From a starting list of 43 combinations, which included all three individual Olympic  medallists from Paris, only 12 combinations made it through to the second round jump-off.

Swede Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Zuccero Hv had set what looked like an unbeatable time of 51.64 seconds in the jump-off.

With the Irish combination last to compete in the final round, Pender and HHS Calais left all the poles in place to stop the timers almost a second faster than Bengtsson and Zuccero, in a time of 50.88 seconds, to take the victory.

Spaniard Armando Trapote with Tornado Vs, who had held pole position earlier in the final round, completed the podium with a third place finish.

Pender’s Barcelona victory comes on the back of his recent gold medal at the Young Horse World Championships in Belgium, while Pender and HHS Calais (ISH) jumped double clear  in the five-star BMO Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows, Canada, to help Ireland achieve a runner-up finish early last month.

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On Saturday evening Darragh Kenny and the 11-year-old bay gelding Eddy Blue claimed victory in the 1.50m $78,000 Hampton Classic Speed Cup, jumping clear in 69.27 seconds. USA’s McLain Ward took second place in a time of 69.68 seconds, while Ireland’s Conor Swail was third with Vital Chance de la Roque.

The combination had taken the runner-up spot in the 1.45m Speed Stakes on Thursday. They jumped a foot-perfect clear round to stop the clock in 31.95 seconds, just behind Rene Dittmer in 31.18 seconds.

In Sunday’s 1.60m CSI5* Grand Prix Kenny was seventh with Chic Chic, while in the 1.45m CSI2* Grand Prix four Irish riders finished inside the top six. Conor Swail took the runner-up spot behind Nayel Nasser for Egypt. Riding the 16-year-old gelding Count Me In, Swail  and Count Me In were double clear to finish less than a second behind Nasser.

Irish rider Philip McGuane completed the podium, riding the nine-year-old mare Orphea HQ; Jonathan Corrigan was fifth with the nine-year-old mare Oaky Flandria, while Conor O’Regan and Mendini DR came home in sixth place.

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