Eight teams will contest the feature class of the week for the award of the Aga Khan Trophy.

The Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Britain, Mexico and the United States will compete in the CSIO5* 1.60m class.

Ireland’s Chef d’Équipe Michael Blake has named Denis Lynch, Tom Wachman, Séamus Hughes Kennedy and Cian O’Connor on the home side’s team.

Tipperary’s Germany-based Lynch will be first into the Main Arena aboard the 12-year-old stallion Vistograd.

Tom Wachman, a winner of the Anglesea Speed Stakes yesterday, will follow with the Coolmore Showjumping-owned Tabasco De Toxandria Z.

Séamus Hughes Kennedy and ESI Rocky, who jumped their first 5* class here two years ago, is the third line Irish combination. ESI Rocky is the top-rated horse in this class with a staggering 70% clear rate at 5* 160 level, according to equiratings.com.

Cian O’Connor, so often the anchor leg for Irish teams throughout the years, will again fill that role this afternoon, as he rides the 14-year-old chestnut gelding Bentley De Sury.

Ireland finished in the runner-up position in both of the last two years, and will start as favourites this afternoon.

According to equiratings.com, Ireland is the team to beat on paper, with their website rating Ireland’s win chances at 34%, followed by Germany and and last year’s winners, the USA, on 14% each.

The Nations’ Cup of Ireland for the award of the Aga Khan Trophy gets underway at 3pm.

RTÉ2’s TV coverage from the RDS begins at 1.45pm.

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Twenty-year-old Tom Wachman and Hawaii gave Coolmore Showjumping a win in the Main Arena when taking the Anglesea Speed Stakes.

Last to go of 35 starters in the 1.45m Table C class, the Irish duo went clear in 69.51 seconds, to grab the advantage from earlier leader, Bryan Balsiger of Switzerland, aboard Fais Toi Belle Du Seigneur. They had previously set the time to beat at 69.65 seconds.

Third place went to Tipperary’s Denis Lynch, riding Katja. The German-based combination stopped the timers with a clear round in 70.10 seconds.

Jordan Coyle and Chaccolino win

The second international class in the Main Arena on Thursday afternoon, The Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes, worth €58,600, went to Derry’s Jordan Coyle with Chaccolino.

Six combinations, representing Ireland, Brazil, Mexico and USA, successfully completed the opening round to progress to the jump-off.

One of the clear rounds, Trevor Breen and Highland President, did not contest the jump-off, leaving five to go against the clock.

Rodrigo Pessoa, the former Irish chef d’équipe, went clear with Major Tom, setting a target of 41.18 seconds.

Coyle and his willing partner Chaccolino brought the crowd to their feet with a clear in 37.19 seconds – a time that would be impossible to beat.

Meath’s Cian O’Connor with Iron Man, and Mexico’s Carlos Hank Guerreiro aboard H5 Origi Horta, both had eight faults, leaving them in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Last to go against the clock was top US rider McLain Ward, riding Imperial HBF. Despite his black gelding’s best efforts, however, he finished runner-up, with a clear round in 38.56 seconds.

Friday is Aga Khan Nations Cup Day at the Dublin Horse Show.

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Mikey Pender and HHS Vancouver lead home an Irish clean sweep with the home nation filling the first five places in the Speed Stakes.

Pender and HHS Vancouver were last to go of 51 competitors in the first International class of this year’s show and produced a clear round in 57.23 seconds to knock his compatriot Richard Howley off the top spot.

Howley and Mansini Ltd has lead on 57.62 before Kildare native Pender produced the fastest time of the class.

Séamus Hughes Kennedy, who had been in pole position for much of the competition, evenntually finished in third position with Cuffesgrange Cavadora, clear in 60.23 seconds.

Tipperary’s Tom Wachman and Cathalina S were next best with a stopping the timers clear in 61.18 seconds, while Derry’s Jordan Coyle with Eristov claimed fifth place with a clear round in a time of 62.14 seconds.

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Corkman Sweetnam beat off a world class field to score a superb victory in Saturday $401,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate five-star Grand Prix.

Sweetnam and Alejandro, a 12-year-old gelding, won after a stunning jump-off round when last to go against the clock.

Switzerland’s world number two Martin Fuchs and his 2018 world championship individual silver medalist mount, Clooney 51, had held the lead with a clear round in 37.16 seconds. However Sweetnam crossed the line in 37.03 seconds after a daring gallop to the last fence to take victory.

American Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue finished third with a clear in 38.74 seconds. Wexford’s Bertram Allen and The Irish Sport Horse Pacino Amiro were sixth with one fence down against the clock in 37.18 seconds.

Final Results: $401,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate Grand Prix CSI5*

1. Alejandro and Shane Sweetnam 0/0/37.03
2. Clooney 51 and Martin Fuchs 0/0/37.16
3. Eddie Blue and Devin Ryan 0/0/38.74

O’Connor wins on Sunday

Cian O’Connor and the 10-year-old gelding Careca LS Elite won Sunday’s $50,000 Restylane two-star Grand Prix.

Seven of the 44 starters made it through to the second round. O’Connor, despite being first to go in the jump-off led from start to finish with his clear in 45.65 seconds proving unbeatable.

Canada’s Rachel Cornacchia and Valkyrie De Talma were second, two-hundredths of a second behind the winner. Jennifer Waxman of the USA and Mecho Van’t Kiezelhof finished third in 46.07 seconds.

The Olympic individual bronze medalist who has represented Ireland in 15 international championships has a string of up-and-coming horses at WEF this season with a very specific goal in mind for the 2021 season.

O’Connor will continue to campaign for the duration of WEF. He is also training students at the elite level, including Canadian Nicole Walker and up-and-coming Irish riders Max and Tom Wachman, grandsons of Coolmore owner John Magnier.

Final Results: $50,000 Restylane Grand Prix CSI2*

1. Careca’s LS Elite and Cian O’Connor 0/0/45.65
2. Valkyrie De Talma and Rachel Cornacchia 0/0/45.67
3. Mecho Van’t Kiezelhof and Jennifer Waxman 0/0/46.07

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