THE only chance to qualify for a place in the RDS Puissance competition at the Dublin Horse Show was offered in Mullingar last Sunday. The class is held over five rounds and, in order to earn a place, riders must clear 1.80m. Just five riders lined out for the class.

Sean Monaghan riding Douglas Taylor’s French-bred mare Babou Derick (Ready Boy Des Forets x Caridor Z) proved best of the bunch, clearing a massive 2.05m to claim the win, the lion’s share of the €2,000 on offer and, most importantly, a chance to compete in the Puissance at the Dublin Horse Show.