Cheltenham champions to star at horse show

AN illustrious field will turn out for the fifth running of the Racehorse to Riding Horse class at this year’s Dublin Horse Show.

The 2014 Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show takes place at the RDS, Ballsbridge from Wednesday, August 6 to Sunday, August 10.

From the Cheltenham Gold Cup to the longest race in the world at Lion D’Angers, the RDS Showgrounds will see a selection of top class racehorses line out in the hope of reaching the winning line once again.

On this occasion their sights will be set on the back straight of Ring 1 at 1.35pm on Saturday, August 9 for the popular class sponsored by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.

The 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Imperial Commander, might have been the bookies’ favourite back in his racing days but this is a whole new course and distance.

Other former Cheltenham champions such as Weapons Amnesty, Dun Doire and Shinrock Paddy will also be lining-up in Ring 1 to meet such greats as JP McManus’s Binocular, with career earnings of over a million euro, and the Goat Racing Syndicate’s Arkle Challenge Trophy winner, ForPadyDePlasterer, who is clearly no goat.

The pundits are also whispering about Notre Pere, a Coral Welsh National and Guinness Gold Cup winner who was pipped at the post for a Horse of the Year award by none other than the legendary Sea The Stars.

The stayer, Another Jewel, cannot be overlooked, having won the world’s longest race, the Anjou Loire Challenge at a distance of 4m 4.5 furlongs, and Ruby Walsh’s former mounts TheMoonAndSixPence and Prince Erik will also give a run for the money. Callow Lake, an impressive chaser with nine wins will be present alongside Amstecos, once noted the

“most promising horse to be trained in Northern Ireland in 25 years

?, while Arthur Moore’s Mansony returns with a vengeance.

Thousands of visitors from home and abroad are expected to attend this, the 141st horse show, the showcase event for Ireland’s equestrian tourism.

The historic RDS grounds in Ballsbridge will come alive when over 1,300 horses and ponies compete in 125 competitions and classes for a total prize fund in excess of e940,000.

The Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show showcases the very best in national and international equestrianism and visitors to this world-renowned event will enjoy top international show jumping classes such as the Longines International Grand Prix and the Land Rover Puissance.

As ever, the contest for the Aga Khan Trophy is one of the highlights of the week and Team Ireland will be one of eight countries to compete in the Furusiyya FEI Nations’ Cup.

With a packed programme of events planned for the five days, the show is a terrific day out.

Children of all ages will love the wide range of fun activities in the Kids’ Zone including magic shows, pony rides and bouncy castles.

For further information and online ticket booking, log on to the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show website at www.dublinhorse show.com.