IN the show jumping sire results, the top end reads like a Who’s Who of European-based proven performance sires. From an Irish perspective, there are two Irish links in the top 50 this year (just Lux Z appeared in 2016, in 43rd place) through the exiled pair of Ard VDL Douglas and Querlybet Hero.

The Darco son moved from 63rd place in 2016 to 48th in the most recent rankings, while Querleybet Hero, who stood for just one season in Ireland, stands in 50th place.