IRISH riders dominated the top seven places in the opening international class at the 2018 Stena Line Dublin Horse Show at the RDS today (Wednesday) when Co Derry’s Daniel Coyle won the Speed Stakes By Alpes D'or.

Canadian-based Coyle galloped to victory in the 1.40m Table A class aboard Ariel Grange’s Tienna, a 10-year-old mare by For Pleasure, in 51.48 seconds. Offaly’s Darragh Kenny was just fractions slower to take the runner-up place with Whiterock Farm’s Billy Manjaro (Animo x Cevin Z) in 51.82.

Bertram Allen finished third with Calafrieda, ahead of Cameron Hanley and Theoreme Du Desir in fourth and Clem MCMahon in fifth aboard Pacifico.

Captain Geoff Curran (Drumillar Lough) and David Simpson (Unex Cognac IV) completed the line-up in sixth and seventh place.

TWOMEY ON THE BOARD

Billy Twomey then made it two from two for the home nation when he won the 1.45m Minerva Stakes By Dublin Airport Central with the brilliant Irish Sport Horse stallion Ardcolum Duke.

Joe Flynn’s 14-year-old grey stallion by Gypsy Duke recorded the fastest of 19 clear rounds in 54.46 seconds to once again land a win in the main RDS arena.

Once again, Darragh Kenny filled the runner-up spot, this time aboard Anne Thompson’s Cassini Z, in a time of 54.95. Britain’s Harriet Nuttall finished third aboard her speed expert, the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse Silver Lift (Easy Lift x Silver Cloud).