ALMOST 200 combinations jumped at the Warrington qualifiers for this year’s Dublin Horse Show amateur final and similar numbers contested each round.

Runner-up in the Allianz Insurance-sponsored Amateur Championship last year, A rider Gillian Blanche will be hoping to move up one place this year with the experienced Bellegrove Prima Donna.

Another targeting the top spot is Paul Carroll (AA). He rides Castleroche La Roche, who was sixth on their last RDS outing in 2014.

Hilda Keane (AA) secured her ticket with the very experienced Krafty Jack and she will have no shortage of sideline support with husband Tholm Keane on hand to give advice.

Winner of the championship in 2014 with Delphi Flyer, AA rider Edel Kelly this year partners a new mount in Zamir.

Sheikh Samir Mirdad has secured his place with Mirdads Maaa Shaaa Alllah and Tom MacGuinness of Horseware rides Horseware Foxy. The Louth pair jumped at the Winter Equestrain Festival in Florida, while Mirdad got lots of European competition under his belt this spring.

Peter Brady (AA) and Hollymount Cruise Hill booked their Dublin place at the Tubberbride qualifier and last year they reached the final in the main arena at Dublin. Elizabeth Bowen and Coevers Dream return to the RDS with plenty of experience, while national amateur champion Grainne McGarry has qualified Aramis Encore.

New to the RDS, Debbie Lawrence and Cooley Are Cruising will join Catherine Dunphy and Eden, who will also be making their debut at Dublin.

If determination alone was an indicator as to who could take the 2016 title, then Eileen Duggan must surely be at the top of the list.

She qualified Libero Flight at Tubberbride after she recovered from a broken back. Duggan’s mount Libero Flight gained valuable mileage under John Floody while she was recuperating and it will be an emotional moment when the pair enter the ring at Dublin.