No matter what you watch at the Dublin Horse Show this week, at some point the competitions will take you to the Anglesea Stand.

This year, we must bid a collective farewell to the iconic building as once the fun is over for this year, a €50 million project will begin to build a brand-new stand and terrace.

The state-of-the-art stand will look onto both the main arena and out onto the famous show rings which will bring incredible new vantage points for spectators who often have to choose between watching classes.

Designed as a cantilever structure and on two floors, the uninterrupted sightlines are something to look forward to in 2026.

Next year’s show will be very different without a major stand but the Dublin Horse Show director Pat Hanley has promised adequate arrangements for international show jumping next year.

So, what are the big arena deals this year? Well, it’s the Underwriting Exchange Aga Khan Nations Cup of Ireland tomorrow (Friday), the Defender Puissance on Saturday and then the €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix.

We’ve hopefully all adopted our positive sporting psychology and left the disappointing Paris Olympics well and truly behind us.

Aga Khan Nations Cup

We move on to the Aga Khan Nations Cup which has run since 1926 (the new stand will be unveiled on the centenary year of the Aga Khan Cup). The main arena will welcome teams from across the world including Paris gold medalists, Britain.

Silver medalists the USA with legends of the sport, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward will also take the road to Dublin as will bronze medalists, France. So, it’s most definitely game on for the Irish team.

Last Friday, Horse Sport Ireland high performance show jumping director Michael Blake named his five-strong squad for the highly competitive €250,000 Nations Cup where only four will compete.

It’s been a brilliant year of the Irish senior teams with eleven podium finishes. Missing out last year, Ireland hopes to win back the coveted golden trophy which was theirs in 2022.

No matter the results, we’re in for a thrill. Best of luck to everyone taking on the challenges of the main arena this year. Come on Ireland!

Going to press, the squad selected is Co Louth’s Mark McAuley, Co Offaly’s Darragh Kenny, Co Derry’s Daniel Coyle, Co Tipperary’s Denis Lynch and Co Meath’s Cian O’Connor, with the four final combinations announced later this week.

Mark McAuley will ride the only Irish Sport Horse on the team, the impressive GRS Lady Amaro, bred by his uncle Denis Hickey. Rumour has it that Daniel Coyle will ride his Olympic horse Legacy.

Darragh Kenny will ride Cartello VDL who is also just back from Paris but un-jumped there. Denis Lynch will ride Vistogrand and Cian O’Connor will be onboard serious Nations Cup performer, Fancy de Kergane.

Among the riders to grace the RDS turf will be world number one Henrik von Eckermann, following a disappointing Paris Olympics, von Eckermann may be searching for some redemption after he fell off in the individual final and Sweden didn’t make the team final.

Von Eckermann’s wife, Janika Sprunger will ride for reigning Aga Khan champions, Switzerland. Alongside her are Olympic silver medallists Steve Guerdat, Martin Fuchs and Edouard Schmitz.

But it is the Irish team we shall get behind and hope our roars bring them victory.

Either way, we are in for an incredible weekend featuring some of the best riders and horses in the world, not forgetting their grooms and support teams who deserve just as much praise for the work they do caring for and turning out our equine superstars. Here’s to you!

Defender Puissance

Always a show favourite, the Puissance is celebrating 20 years of sponsorship by Defender this year.

Starting at a height of 1.80m, the jump will climb with each round successfully jumped until it reaches 2.20 and above. Knock-out finishes are nail-biting stuff and once again MC Brendan McArdle will whip up the crowd.

Last year Cmdt Geoff Curran was victorious aboard the mighty Bishop’s Quarter, winning by clearing a massive 2.25m. Can he retain the title this year is the question?

Rolex Grand Prix

The introduction of the half a million euro Rolex Grand Prix has certainly added fuel to an already flaming menu of sport.

There will be 17 individual Irish riders including Bertram Allen who won the Grand Prix back in 2014. Allen was ruled out at the Paris Olympics at the very last minute, with the super talented Pacino Amiro picking up an injury.

The wonder that is Mikey Pender has two Irish-bred horses in the Grand Prix, last year’s Aga Khan debut mount HHS Calais and also the faster than lightning HHS Fortune.

2022 Aga Khan hero Conor Swail will also compete for the big prize, with three mounts in the exciting competition, Count Me In, Casturano and Theo 160.

There is a fine collection of supremely talented younger riders taking on the Grand Prix too and it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see European Young Rider gold medallist Niamh McEvoy battle hard. Fracis Derwin Jnr and Max Wachman, will be hoping for a chance of the half million pot.

No matter the results, we’re in for a thrill. Best of luck to everyone taking on the challenges of the main arena this year. Come on Ireland!