SUSIE BERRY (29)
Horse: Clever Trick (Financial Reward x Bonnie Prince, bred by Vincent Cousins)
Groom: Crisy Salmon
Owners: Rider, Anne Marling and Sue Wilkinson
Form: Susie has become a stalwart of the Irish team and made her Olympic debut last year in Paris.
The 13-year-old mare Clever Trick joined her stable in 2022 and the pair made their CCI5* debut at Kentucky in 2024 where they finish 22nd after 20 penalties on the cross-country.
That is the only cross-country fault for the pair from 18 international runs and they went around Badminton in the Spring just for time. Part of the winning team at the FEI Nations Cup final in Boekelo last October.
They should start the first phase in the mid-30s.
IAN CASSELLS (31)
Horse: Millridge Atlantis (Dinan Cascaletto x Warrenstown You 2, bred by Sean O’Loughlin)
Groom: Leanne Foster
Owners: Gerry Leahy, Fiona Leahy and Ber Leahy
Form: A well-deserved championship debut for this pair after solid form over the past 18 months.
The 11-year-old gelding ended last season with a CCI4*-S win at Ballindenisk and was part of the Nations Cup winning team at Millstreet in June 2024, as well as the team that finished third in Aachen (11th individually). They made their CCI5* debut in Pau to finish 25th.
This season, a third place in the CCI4*-L at Ballindenisk set them up for a return trip to Aachen where they finished in the top 20.
They haven’t had cross-country faults since 2020 and should start in the low 30s.
AOIFE CLARK (44)
Horse: Full Monty de Lacense (Quickly De Kreisker x Vesontio du Mesnil)
Groom: Natalie Wallace
Owner: Ace of Spades Syndicate
Form: This 10-year-old gelding joined the two-time Olympian’s string just a few months ago from New Zealand’s Jonelle Price and, from three international runs, they finished fourth twice - in the CCI4*-L at Millstreet in May and most recently in the CCI4*-S at Hartpury on their dressage score of 30.8 in a star-studded field of Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo who took the win.
They have had four show jumping faults in two of the starts and should start the first phase around the 30-mark.
In 2024, the gelding won the Cornbury House intermediate with Price. An exciting prospect.
SARAH ENNIS (50)
Horse: Dourough Ferro Class Act (Creevagh Ferro x OBOS Quality, bred by Gordon Drury)
Groom: Emily Singleton
Owners: James Potterton and Niki Potterton
Form: Another 10-year-old on the team under the experienced Olympian Sarah, the pair’s highlights this season include five international starts with the best result (sixth) coming in the CCI4*-L at Millstreet in the spring.
Dressage scores vary with the best (29.7) coming at Ballindenisk, while 12 show jumping faults scuppered chances in Aachen.
The horse did not compete in 2024, but 2023 results include an EI115 (Open) win at Kilguilkey and a runner-up finish in the 3*-L at Ballindenisk International.
ROBBIE KEARNS (28)
Horse: Chance Encounter (Creevagh Grey Rebel x Lord Americo, bred by Robin Johnson)
Groom: Maxine Rae
Owner: Richard Ames
Form: Irish-based Robbie is another championship debutant with the 16-year-old gelding Chance Encounter and is well regarded following notable progress across the last two season which culminated in a brilliant 10th place finish at CCI5* Luhmühlen in June.
That result came off the back of a fourth-place finish in the 4*-S at Ballindenisk in the spring and the pair scored two podium finishes at that level in 2024.
They won’t be in the lead after dressage, but have the ability to make it up from there. An exciting first championship prospect.
PADRAIG MCCARTHY (48)
Horse: Pomp ‘n’ Circumstance (Ponpadour x Furisto)
Groom: Keara Schmidt
Owners: Rachel Gough and Sarah Gough
Form: This 11-year-old gelding has been produced by Padraig, World Games individual medallist and Olympian, since 2021.
An immaculate cross-country record and close to perfect show jumping sheet makes up for a mid-30s dressage start which most recently saw them finish on a dressage score of 35.1 to place seventh in the CCI4*-L at Bramham.
Their only other international run this year finished with a 12th place in the 4*-S at Thoresby among a stellar field while there were plenty more top-10 finishes at the 4* level in 2024, including helping Ireland win the FEI Nations Cup final in Boekelo.