IRISH riders and horses are always in the ribbons at the world famous Hickstead Derby meeting at the West Sussex venue and this year was no different. Despite failing to take the top honours in the main event, the Derby, or the Speed Derby, the Irish presence was as strong as ever.

Yorkshire’s Matthew Sampson rode out the winner of the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby for the second year in a row, while Waterford’s Paddy O’Donnell slotted into third place with the fastest round of all time.