Final Day in Dublin: Rolex attracts outstanding quality

The cream of the international sport rose to the top in Friday’s prestigious Aga Khan trophy. The burning question for the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland will be whether or not it is still fresh enough to break Irish hearts once again in the Sunday finale. The home nation has been excellent this week, with wins in both of the top level openers on days one and two. They pushed the US close in the Nations Cup, but had to settle for second. Now they have to defy recent history which shows only one Irish winner in the last seven editions of their home Grand Prix. 

The Contenders

USA’s McLain Ward produced a double clear in the Nations Cup with CALLAS to seal the victory. World Number One, Henrik Von Eckermann led the Swedish team with a double clear aboard ILIANA. Martin Fuchs led the Swiss with two perfect rounds on CONNOR JEI. Belgium’s Koen Vereecke and KASANOVA DE LA POMME did the exact same as pathfinders for the eventual fourth-placed nation. ALL of these four combinations return in the Grand Prix and they line-up in the top seven of the EquiRatings Prediction Centre. 

Britain’s Ben Maher, World Number Two and recent Olympic Team Gold medalist, also led his team with a double-clear, but he now switches horses to his original Olympic selection POINT BREAK. They are joint-favourites with McClain Ward, both on a 7% win chance. That may sound open for a favourites winning chances, but this Grand Prix has extraordinary depth as well as strength. 

France’s Francois Xavier Boudant rode the top-rated BRAZYL DU MEZEL in the Nations Cup on Friday. They are the reigning champions of this Grand Prix following their win 12 months ago, but nothing went their way 48 hours ago with two fences down, a post-round elimination, and then a full team exit when France couldn’t put three scores on the board in round one. If form is temporary but class is permanent, then maybe their forgettable Friday feeling plus fresher legs could prove a lethal combination.

Home Chances

Ireland produced three clears for a perfect start on Friday and the second of those was produced by Mark McCauley and GRS LADY AMARO. The Prediction Centre gives them the highest chance of success for the hosts, narrowly ahead of Conor Swail and COUNT ME IN who have done very little wrong in this arena and a huge amount spectacularly right. He won the team jump-off for Ireland in 2022 and will now want to do the same for himself in 2024.

Round two on Friday was a different story for Ireland, with only clear coming from the four riders. This time it was the talisman Cian O’Connor that delivered another pressure round and he now switches mount to the up and coming 10-year-old, FERMOY. 
    
As the anticipation builds for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland, all eyes will be on whether the home riders can defy the odds and reclaim their crown on home soil. With an unparalleled field of international talent, the stage is set for a thrilling finale that could see history rewritten—or hearts broken. One thing is certain: this will be a Grand Prix to remember.