FIELDING one of the strongest squads in recent years, 10 Irish riders are among the confirmed entries for the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials to be held in May. Spearheaded by Badminton veterans Clare Abbott (Euro Prince) and Joseph Murphy (Sportsfield Othello), as well as second timers Austin O’Connor (Kilpatrick Knight), Jonty Evans (Cooley Rorkes Drift), Michael Ryan (Dunlough Striker) and Ciaran Glynn (November Night), the contingent also features Aoife Clark (Master Rory), Ciaran Glynn (Killossery Jupiter Rising), Patricia Ryan (Dunrath Eclipse) and rookies Padraig McCarthy (Mr Chunky) and James O’Haire with China Doll.

Abbott, Murphy and Evans will be out to emulate or better their top-20 completions last year, and Evans especially has something to prove. In third spot after dressage in 2017, the British-based Olympian picked up a hugely expensive 20 penalties in the country, before producing a foot-perfect round on the final day.

Michael Ryan and Dunlough Striker fired warning shots when leading the dressage in Barroca recently, and with the World Equestrian Games looming at the end of the summer, they, like many of the remainder will be keen to make an impression.

Ireland is among 13 nations to be represented at this year’s showcase, which for the second year will see course designer Eric Winter at the helm. The 2017 victors Andrew Nicholson and Nereo return to defend their title, and once again will go head to head with former winners and last year’s runners-up Michael Jung with the evergreen La Biosthetique Sam. The double Olympic champion is Germany’s sole representative, while leading the host nation with a choice of fours Irish-bred rides, will be Oliver Townend aboard his Burghley champion Ballaghmor Class.

The Burghley runner-up Piggy French is also Irish-mounted with Vanir Kamira, and Gemma Tattersall is back for another crack with the popular Irish thoroughbred Arctic Soul. Another crowd favourite is Yoshiaki Oiwa from Japan, who riding the strongly built Irish-bred Duke of Cavan could pull off a surprise win. The French too can never be discounted, nor can Olympic bronze medallist Philip Dutton who leads a five-strong challenge from America and the Kiwi squad of Mark Todd and Tim and Jonelle Price.

There are eight previous winners in the field, and while veterans Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt are on the wait list (as is Ireland’s Alan Nolan with Bronze Flight) they are likely to get a run. Former winner Sam Griffiths carries Australia’s hopes with the great Irish mare Paulank Brockagh.