It was an incredible result for Eristov, the 17-year-old grey gelding who has achieved so much success throughout the world, as the event was his final career class before retirement.

Easy Boy De Laubry Z and Proudley won the Puissance last year and were popular competitors as the British rider wore a Mayo jersey during most of the competition.

Round One

Nine combinations entered the Defender Puissance – seven from Ireland along with The Netherlands’ Zoi Snels and the defending champion, Rachel Proudley with Easy Boy De Laubry Z.

Waterford’s Paddy O’Connell and Quality Command were the only four faulters from the opening round.

Jump-Off Rounds 1 & 2

Derry rider Daniel Coyle and VDL Mourinho exited at the jump-off round 1 stage – where only the triple bar and the Wall had to be jumped – when failing to successfully clear the Wall at 1.95m (6′ 5″).

In jump-off round 2, the first to take on the Wall at 2.05m (6′ 9″) was Sligo’s Richard Howley aboard the Bolesworth Puissance victor, French Connection. The pair dislodged a brick from the top of the Wall, with the same happening to the Dutch competitor Zoi Snels with Jiminez Z.

Jordan Coyle and Eristov, next into the Laya Arena, became the first combination to clear the Wall at 2.05m (6′ 9″).

His fellow Irish rider Mikey Pender, riding Coblue PS, experienced the same fate as Richard Howley and Zoi Snels as they knocked part of the top line of the Wall.

Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z ensured a third jump-off round when they went clear. They were followed by Andrew Hodgins from Sligo with Shanaclough Luichew, and then Longford’s Derek McCoppin and Explosief’s Legacy.

Jump-Off Rounds 3 & 4

For jump-off round 3, the Wall was increased to 2.15m with four combinations talking on the challenge.

Jordan Coyle and Eristov went clear, before Rachel Proudley and Easy Boy De Laurby Z followed them, to ensure there would be jump-off round four. Andrew Hodgins and Shanaclough Luichew were unable to clear the Wall at 2.15m, but were immediately followed into the arena by Derek McCoppin with Explosief’s Legacy, who became the third combination to go through to a final round.

The fourth jump-off round saw both Coyle and Proudley have four faults each, as they and their horses failed to clear the Wall at 2.22m (7′ 3″). Derek McCoppin and his partner, Explosief’s Legacy, had both the triple bar and the Wall down for eight fault.

As a result Coyle with Eristov and Proudley and Easy Boy De Laubry Z shared the win in the Defender Puissance for 2026.

Speaking after the class, Derry rider Jordan Coyle admitted:

“I actually feel disappointed. I think I let him down bigtime in the last round. I actually think he would have jumped it if I had done my job, but for him to retire like this is unbelievable. He is actually the horse that started everything for me. What he has given me has been unbelievable and for him to retire like this in incredible.”

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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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He won the Laya Arena Stakes in the early afternoon and followed up with success in the day’s feature contest, the CSIO5* Sport Ireland Classic this evening.

In the 1.55m class, a total of 55 combinations – 16 of them from Ireland – took up the challenge of the Alan Wade-designed course.

The home representatives dominated the class, taking six of the first seven places.

Coyle and the nine-year-old chestnut ran out winners with a clear round in a time of 65.49 seconds.

Their nearest rivals were Cork’s Shane Sweetnam with Pia Maria H. The mare also produced a clear round, as she stopped the clock at 66.97 seconds.

The all-Irish podium was completed by Tipperary’s Tom Wachman. Riding the Coolmore Showjumping-owned Do It Easy, they left all fences in tact as they crossed the finishing line with a clear in 67.99 seconds.

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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 high quality class saw 40 horse and rider combinations tackle Alan Wade’s course, but it was the penultimate combination to jump who produced the only clear round of the final day feature competition.

The veteran US rider took the €166,000 winner’s prize on the Cherry Knoll Farm-owned mare.

Former Ireland chef d’équipe Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom claimed the runner-up position with the fastest of 11 four-fault scores. The Brazilian and his partner clocked 73.61 seconds to take home €100,000.

US-based Cork rider Shane Sweetnam finished best of the Irish in third place on the podium with CSF James Kann Cruz, stopping the timers at 74.39 seconds, to win €75,000.

Seven nationalities were represented in the top-10 of the five star €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland, with combinations from Germany, Britain, Canada and Mexico joining the three countries represented on the podium.

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The win was a third Aga Khan Trophy success for the Dutch, who finished the competition as the only team on a zero score.

The winning team consisted of Frank Schuttert (Isis), Kevin Jochem (Camilla Van De Helle), William Greve (Grandorado TN N.O.P.) and Harrie Smolders (Mr. Tac).

Smolders, the anchor rider for the Dutch, knew he couldn’t afford to knock a fence in the second round, as four faults would have seen a jump-off between the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany.

The foot perfect round by Smolders and Mr. Tac gave the Dutch their first Aga Khan win since 2010.

Ireland and Germany finished level on four faults, but with the Germans faster combined times, they were placed second, ahead of the home nation.

The two younger Irish riders on the team, 20-year-old Tom Wachman and 23-year-old Séamus Hughes Kennedy both produced double clear rounds on their mounts Tabasco De Toxandria Z and ESI Rocky respectively.

Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Vistogrand, the Irish pathfinders, had four faults in both rounds.

Cian O’Connor and Bentley De Sury had one fence down in the first round, before going clear in the second.

The defending Aga Khan champions, the USA, finished in fourth position, ahead of the British in fifth, and Canada in sixth. Mexico took seventh position, with Switzerland in eighth.

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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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Home competitors won two of the three international classes in the Main Arena at the RDS, with Jordan Coyle and Michael Pender taking wins.

The opening, Speed Stakes by Heathman Farm, saw Millview Cicero and Coyle win, with a clear round in 52.70 seconds. Irish riders and horses took five of the top-six-placings in the class.

Pender and HHS Fortune are second Irish winners

HHS Fortune and Michael Pender claimed the Minerva Stakes by LHA Group, stopping the clock with a clear round in 51.23 seconds. Here Irish combinations took four of the first five places.

The final international class in the Main Arena on Wednesday went to Germany’s Richard Vogel and Phenyo Van Het Keysersbos. Their time of 67.57 seconds brought them the €9,306 first prize.

Michael Pender and HHS Los Angeles were best of the Irish, taking the runner-up spot, as they stopped the timers in 67.88 seconds.

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