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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Lynch, riding the 11-year-old KWPN mare Katja, produced a fast, faultless round to win the CSI2* 1.45m Big Tour class. The combination stopped the clock in 58.15 seconds.

The 50-year-old, aboard the eight-year-old Westphalian stallion Cornet Gold, also claimed the CSI1* 1.35m class against the clock.

With a super-fast and smooth round over the jumps, they stopped the clock at 67.27 seconds – a dominant performance that any other combination couldn’t match.

Lynch, who remains a fixture at the highest level of international show jumping, now boasts more than 4,700 international starts and 223 career victories.

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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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Competition on the International Ring on a track designed by FEI Course Designer Santiago Varela of Spain, 66 horse and rider combinations undertook the challenge.

The one-round competition measured 565 metres and featured 12 obstacles (14 efforts), all to be completed within the 85-second time allowed.

Both the Devil’s Dyke and the open water were offered as options on course, providing competitors with an early opportunity to consider strategies ahead of the Sun Life Derby later in the week.

Only round under 70 seconds

Speed and precision were the keys to success, and Daniel Coyle and Calippo 57 demonstrated exactly what it takes to come out on top. The pair delivered the only round under the 70-second mark, stopping the clock in an impressive 69.09 seconds to secure victory.

Great Britain’s Charlie Jones claimed second place with a time of 70.86 seconds, while America’s Melody Liu rounded out the podium.

Top 10 AKITA Drilling Cup 1.45m

1. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Calippo 57
2. Charlie Jones (GBR) & Capitale 6
3. Melody Liu (USA) & Napoleon Van Den Dael
4. Carly Campbell-Cooper (CAN) & Baretino PS
5. Zoe Brown (AUS) & Unchained 2
6. Rupert Carl Winkelmann (GER) & Imodo
7. Kyle King (CAN) & Kayenne Z
8. Brian Morton (CAN) & Baton Rouge
9. Jesus Francisco Orantes Haua (MEX) & Qualitissimo PS
10. Mark Bluman (ISR) & Hastella

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The competition in the International Ring, and the final qualifying opportunity for the AON Grand Prix, saw 63 horse-and-rider combinations take on the challenge of the Canadian Utilities Cup 1.55m.

A fault-free round while staying within the 80-second time allowed was required to reach the jump-off round.

On a course designed by FEI Course Designer Anderson Lima of Mexico, 13 combinations secured their spot in the shortened jump-off.

Fast clear gives Farrel and Coyle the win

Daniel Coyle demonstrated exactly why he is considered one of the world’s top show jumpers. Aboard Farrel, Coyle delivered a spectacular jump-off performance, stopping the clock in a blistering 40.64 seconds while leaving all the rails in place.

His winning time proved more than one second faster than second-place finishers Lillie Keenan (USA) and Kick On.

Coyle’s fellow Irishman Conor Swail and Clonterm Obolensky rounded out the podium in third.

With another international victory added to his impressive resume, Coyle and Farrel once again showcased the speed, precision, and partnership required to succeed at the highest level of the sport.

“This arena and this place is very unique”

On returning to Spruce Meadows in 2026, Coyle admitted:

“I could go on for days about what I love about Spruce Meadows, but everybody kind of knows that now. The biggest thing for me here is that I get to know my horses even better, my younger ones especially, and my older horses that I know so well.”

“This arena and this place is very unique and you don’t just ride like you ride everywhere else, it’s two gears faster and the jumps are twice as long as they are anywhere else.”

Top 10 Canadian Utilities Cup 1.55m

1. Daniel Coyle (IRL) & Farrel
2. Lillie Keenan (USA) & Kick On
3. Conor Swail (IRL) & Clonterm Obolensky
4. Lillie Keenan (USA) & Anton
5. Gabriel de Matos Machado (BRA) & Legaland Sandro
6. Conor Swail (IRL) & Casturano
7. Hilary Scott (AUS) & Lola
8. Mark Bluman (COL) & Genial de B’Neville
9. Vaclav Sanek (CZE) & Quintin
10. Katie Laurie (NZL) & ZF Chacco Rio

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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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