The Rolex Grand Prix of Dublin is always a highlight of the international showjumping calendar — and this year promises drama, quality, and plenty of Irish firepower. The famous grass arena will once again test the very best, with only 20% of combinations typically jumping clear in Round 1. With home riders sitting on the highest-rated horses in the field, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the coveted trophy will stay in Ireland or be claimed by one of the sport’s biggest international names.

Five to Follow

McLain Ward & Imperial HBF

Topping the EquiRatings Prediction Centre with a 10% win chance and 55% clear probability, Imperial HBF and McLain Ward arrive in Dublin as the horse-and-rider combination to beat. A relatively new partnership, they’ve already collected Nations Cup victories and a Rolex Grand Prix podium in La Baule. Imperial is the highest Elo-rated horse in the class, and their record suggests they’re more than capable of delivering under pressure.

Seamus Hughes Kennedy & ESI Rocky

Irish hopes are riding high on ESI Rocky and Seamus Hughes Kennedy. Fresh off a flawless double clear in Friday’s Aga Khan Nations Cup, ESI Rocky is joint top-rated among the world’s 10-year-olds. In 12 rounds at five-star 1.60m this year, they’ve lowered just one rail. Their 70% clear rate — the highest in the field — matches only Chaccolino, making them one of the most consistent and dangerous combinations in Sunday’s test.

Jordan Coyle & Chaccolino

Speaking of Chaccolino, Jordan Coyle’s partner is in red-hot form after Thursday’s Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes win. Eight clears from 11 five-star 1.60m rounds in 2025 tell the story of a horse that thrives on tough tracks. They share that remarkable 70% clear rate with ESI Rocky, and if they make it to a jump-off, the home crowd could be in for a treat.

Martin Fuchs & Conner Jei

Conner Jei returns to Dublin as the defending Rolex Grand Prix champion, aiming to reclaim the title with Martin Fuchs. Last year, they backed up their Grand Prix win with a double clear in the Aga Khan Nations Cup, but 2025 has told a different story so far. A four-fault round in Nations Cup Round 1 followed by a strategic withdrawal from Round 2 signalled a clear shift in focus towards Sunday’s headline class. This will be their third appearance in the Dublin Grand Prix, matching the most starts in the field alongside Pacino Amiro (Bertram Allen) and Highland President (Trevor Breen) — a depth of experience that could prove decisive when the pressure is on.

Laura Kraut & Bisquetta

The USA are coming into this Grand Prix with multiple irons in the fire. One pair to keep an eye on is Laura Kraut & Bisquetta. This pair finished second in the US Equestrian Open Grand Prix of Wellington and was a part of the winning US teams in Rome and Aachen. 

With a world-class line-up, a notoriously tough course, and the home nation’s hopes resting on in-form combinations, the Rolex Grand Prix of Dublin is shaping up to be a showdown worth watching from the first bell to the last fence.