ALL eyes will be on Irish international event rider Jonty Evans and his best friend, Art (aka Cookey Rorkes Drift (ISH)) who will compete at the upcoming Ssang Yong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials from September 13th-17th next.

It’s their first UK outing together since Jonty secured the horse’s future in his yard after a successful crowd-funding campaign, with the help of two very substantial private donors, raised the hefty sum of £500,000 to buy the 11-year-old son of Courage II.

There was some surprise for the public when Jonty did not compete the horse at the European Eventing Championships in Poland last week, explaining that the buying process was complex to complete.

However, it’s all systems go now for the pair who provided a ninth place in the individual finals at Rio for Ireland and they were a late entry at Millstreet International Eventing this weekend.

“I’m delighted to be riding Cooley Rorkes Drift at Blenheim this year,” said Jonty. “It’s a stunning venue and will be a fantastic competition. We are particularly excited as it will give ‘Art’ a chance to meet so many of the people who kindly contributed to his purchase.”

Jonty and Art will compete in the CCI3* – one of three international classes at SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

All three classes – the CCI3*, the CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses and the Event Rider Masters final, which is also a CIC3* – received huge entries, are oversubscribed and have waiting lists.

It won’t be plain sailing for Jonty and Art though as there are many top names competing including Zara Tindall who has a horse in each of the three classes, Pippa Funnell who has won Blenheim six times, and William Fox-Pitt who has stood on the winner’s podium five times at the top venue.

In addition, former Olympic gold medallists are entered, including Sir Mark Todd, Blyth Tait and Andrew Hoy. And several members of the British squad which won team gold at the European Championships in Poland last weekend – Tina Cook, Ros Canter, Oliver Townend and Gemma Tattersall – will also be competing at Blenheim.

In total, 15 different nations will be represented at the venue from acros the world.