WRAPPING up a busy month at the Green Glens arena, the team at Millstreet are now focusing their attention on eventing, and the International Horse Trials, which open on Wednesday. Big changes have taken place in the schedule since the inaugural running last year, and most notable is the exciting introduction of the long format two and three-star classes.

Much to the delight of the Duggan family, and despite an unenviable date clash with the Event Riders Masters series at Blair Castle in Scotland, the interest from overseas has exceeded expectations. A massive British entry includes several senior international riders, among whom is Izzy Taylor, together with compatriots Harry Meade and Laura Collett. These crowd pullers head a further impressive group of foreign riders, which in some classes outnumbers the home side. Others taking part are representatives from seven countries, namely Australia, Finland, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand and America.

The challenge from the southern hemisphere appears especially powerful, and standing out is last year’s CIC*** victor Jesse Campbell. The Kiwi returns to defend his title with Kaapachino, and challenges the CCI*** with his two-star victor Cleveland.

Also on top form is Australian Kevin McNab, who headed two classes at Camphire last month. British-based McNab makes no secret of his fondness for the Irish horse and rides several over the four days.

The British also look impressive and joining Taylor, Meade and Collett is a squad of 31 fellow travellers. Among them is former Olympic bronze medallist Sharon Hunt, as well as fellow internationals Nicky Roncoroni, Polly Stockton and JP Sheffield. Others to keen make an impact are the American riders Sinead Halpin, Lillian Heard and Kylie Lyman. All three carry top-class form from the States, while USET team member Halpin boasts a runner up placing at Burghley in 2012.

Always strong on home turf, the Irish squad look more than up for the challenge. Aoife Clark (Wasting Light), Austin O’Connor (Kilpatrick Knight) and Cathal Daniels (Rioghan Rua) could easily emerge as favourites for the CCI***, while Camilla Speirs, Joseph Murphy and Sarah Ennis have fresh horses for the shorter format equivalent.

The large number of differing international classes is always a popular draw for overseas riders, and another sector to broaden the appeal is the new CICJ* for juniors.

With the under-age European championships on the horizon and Millstreet as the venue for next year, selectors will be viewing this new feature keenly, as they will in the two-star classes.

The latter classes will also be an indicator for the Le Lion d’Angers young horse form, as will the prestigious CICYH* for six-year-old horses. This young horse championship now runs under an important new banner, and will be known as The Coral Cove CIC*YH in memory of the Millstreet-bred international event horse Coral Cove.

By the sport horse stallion Mill Jess, the long format specialist Coral Cove, ridden by Polly Phillips, became one of the best-known event horses of his time. The Duggans are hoping that this new title will become as coveted as the Boomerang equivalent is in show jumping circles.

The introduction of two long format classes is an exciting one. By their very nature, these classes have involved major course building efforts and Thomas Duggan has revealed that these will run largely over new tracks.

Designer Mike Etherington-Smith has blended some of the established features with many fresh and challenging questions. Among these are an imposing Irish Bank, a complex of ‘bird’s nests’ and a route through a previously unused lake at the far end of the course.

Of course the Duggan family are passionate about the young horses, and although the popular National Eventing Discovery class was absent from the jumping show last week, it is due to return on Saturday. This year, the four and five-year-olds will take part in a qualifier before the top ten horses from both age groups move on to a final on Sunday afternoon.

Younger horse producers will also be catered for, as the Eventing Young Irelander class for three year old horses will run as usual on Friday evening.