THE USA won the Aga Khan Nations Cup, sponsored by the Elliott Group, for the ninth time on a thrilling afternoon of sport on Friday at the Gallagher Dublin Horse Show. It was their second victory in three runnings after last winning in 2024.

The competition came down to the very last rider as the USA and Ireland went toe-to-toe the whole way through. In the end, it was a clear from Laura Kraut and four faults from Ireland’s Cian O’Connor that swung it in favour of the stars and stripes. USA were fulfilling their favourites tag after coming into the class with a 23% win chance, according to data analyst company EquiRatings, who had Ireland as third favourites on 18%.

There was an extra memorable build up to this year’s competition with a special presentation to the 25 living Irish Aga Khan winners since 1926 and to British legend Nick Skelton who has the most wins in the famous class, on a total of 11 winning teams. Among them was two-time winner Jessica Kurten who is in her first season as Irish team chef d’equipe.

Alan Wade built a track which featured a special 100th anniversary Aga Khan fence with a time allowed of 73 seconds. The most trouble came at fence 10a which fell six times in the first round while the double at fence 5a and 5b also caused its fair share of problems.

Special horse

On his first Aga Khan appearance, Daniel Coyle was the very first rider to go with Ariel Grange’s 16-year-old gelding Farrel (Cardento 933 x Stakkato). The Dublin roar went up as Daniel galloped into the arena before falling silent while the pair were foot perfect around the big track to post a clear round. He was one of three clears from the first line of eight riders.

Also making his debut in this historic team competition on a special day for the family was Daniel’s older brother Jordan Coyle aboard the 15-year-old gelding Chaccolino (Chacco-Blue x Heartbreaker), owned by Elan Farm. Jordan had already won three international classes at the show and made the Nations Cup course look simple as the pair jumped around at their ease to the delight of the home crowd.

The world number three Shane Sweetnam was one of the Irish riders honoured earlier in the day for his 2022 win in the competition and he was third to go for Ireland with his own and Voquest LLC’s Coriaan van Klapscheut (Comme Il Faut x Lord Z). The forward-going 10-year-old chesnut gelding had the slightest rub at fence four and was foot perfect thereafter to produce Ireland’s third clear of the day and guarantee the team would start the second round on zero faults in a share for the lead.

Shane Sweetnam and Coriaan Van Klapscheut Z jump clear in the Aga Khan Nations Cup at the 2026 Gallagher Dublin Horse Show \ Laurence Dunne/jumpinaction.net

Making his 20th appearance on an Aga Khan team, Cian O’Connor did not need to jump the first round in the anchor position with his mount, the Karlswood Partners-owned 11-year-old gelding Kentucky TN (Verdi TN x Gratianus).

Ireland held the share of the lead alongside the USA at the half way point thanks to three clears from Karl Cook (Caracole de la Roque), Paris Sellon (Chad Blue PS) and Natalie Dean (Mr Boombastic), but a fast time guaranteed the home side the best draw of being last to go in the second round.

Britain was just behind on a score of two. They produced three clear jumping rounds but a single time fault each from Robert (Equine America Vermento) and John Whitaker (Equine America Unick Du) had to count when Tim Gredley (Medoc de Toxandria) faulted at 5a. Matt Sampson was clear with Un Secreto Z. Switzerland were just behind on four faults. There were a total of 13 clears in the first round.

Second round

Karl Cook kept the pressure on Ireland with a clear when first to go for the USA but Daniel Coyle does not know what the word pressure means and he blocked out the electric atmosphere at the Laya Arena when cruising to a double clear with the diminutive Farrel in emphatic style to get the crowd on their feet. “He’s a star. At 16 years old, to do that here, what can I say,” Daniel commented after.

Britain had a rocky start to the second round when Robert Whitaker’s Vermento had a run out at fence nine and subsequently picked up time penalties to finish with 13 faults.

The second line riders again went two-to-toe; USA’s Paris Sellon produced a double clear with Chad Blue PS before Jordan Coyle emulated his little brother with another world class round to keep the battle between the top two interesting.

Natalie Dean was next in for the USA and a late falling pole at the third part of the triple combination prevented her jumping a double clear. Shane Sweetnam looked like he was heading for another clear round until the centenary fence at nine fell to give him with four faults which left Ireland and USA still tied and it would come down to the last line riders – Laura Kraut and Cian O’Connor.

Kraut, winner of the 2025 Rolex Grand Prix at the RDS, delivered in style to produce a clear round. Only a clear would force a jump-off between the two teams. Kentucky TN was jumping out of his skin around the course for O’Connor but came unstuck at the middle part of the combination (11b) to finish with four faults and hand the win to America.

The team from Switzerland finished third on eight faults. Steve Guerdat (Albfuehren’s Iashin Sitte) produced one of six clears for his team of Janika Sprunger (Orelie), Romain Duguet (Hunger Games du Champ du Bois) and Barbara Schnieper (Canice).

Germany wrapped up their campaign after three riders in the second round all jumped clear. That saw them rise and eventually finish fourth, also on eight faults but in a slower time. Britain fell to fifth place, ahead of Belgium, The Netherlands and France.

Jordan Coyle after jumping clear in the Nations Cup at the 2026 Gallagher Dublin Horse Show / Claire Nash

Quotes:

Daniel Coyle: “I can only say great things about that little horse. He always gets really excited. Even this time, before he got into the ring; the last time I didn’t get him in on time and he was running to get in. And it is just that anxiety and that pressure that makes him the amazing athlete he is today.” Daniel on his grandmother Ita who is watching from home: “The last time Ita was here, with my grandfather Danny, I won the Puissance. Granny has been with me and Jordan right through our careers.”

An emotional Jordan Coyle: “Oh my God. What a feeling, what a horse. Honestly, I have waited a long time for a horse like this. The sport is quite easy when you have a horse like that. He doesn’t give much height in the jumps but the feeling is always so careful.”

Shane Sweetnam: “He was brilliant. There was a lot going on when he went into the ring. I was thinking he might lose concentration because he’s still quite young but he really got into the groove and delivered a great clear round.”

Cian O’Connor: “He jumped really well. I wanted to get in quiet and possibly a bit too quiet. When I put my leg on, he just shot forward. It’s a shame not to get it done for the team but we tried our best.”

Robert Ridland, USA team manager: “It was a duel to the finish. It started with Paris Sellon having her first double clear – that was amazing. Karl Cook leading off with his experience and of course Laura Kraut nailing it down, and what Natalie Dean did was incredible. This is the Aga Khan. To me, it’s the most important trophy in our sport, hands down.”

Jessica Kurten: “I’m absolutely thrilled with the performance of the team. It was an outstanding competition, neck and neck with the Americans all the way. This is the way this sport goes. I can’t say they performed badly because they performed incredibly.”

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