AS the 2026 Dublin Horse Show commenced last Wednesday week under the new title sponsorship of Gallagher, two riders made winning debuts at the hallowed RDS grounds in the performance Irish Draught championships, which got the action under way in Ring 2.

The first of these was Bruree primary schoolteacher Danielle Lenihan whose husband Des and their four children - Thomas, Seán, Saoirse and Róisín - were among the huge crowd of supporters who cheered her victory in the four and five-year-old class on the Tony McHugh-bred Drawlin Dashing Lad (Turnerstown Breeze - Larragh Bouncer, by Clew Bay Bouncer).

The four-year-old gelding, who qualified first time out at Tullylish, is owned by the rider’s father-in-law Tom Lenihan who purchased his winner as a two-year-old from Churchtown’s David O’Leary. The latter too was at Dublin along with his wife Emma and, in Ring 3, joined in the large group photograph of Danielle’s parents, sisters, in-laws, friends and members of the Limerick Harriers, with whom the grey hunted last season.

Although going through on a points tally in the 12-strong class, five of the seven who were clear over the Dereck Hamilton-designed track were recalled for the ride phase under the jump judge, Britain’s Hayden Hankey.

Lenihan and Drawlin Dashing Lad went into the final phase on 266.5, as did Gwen Scott on Kathryn McClelland’s Riverview Echo, a four-year-old gelding by Echo King. However, Hankey was clearly more impressed by Lenihan’s mount, awarding Drawlin Dashing Lad a ride score of 37 compared to his rival’s 32. The winner had also topped the conformation scores of Britain’s Ann Bassett.

There is an excellent pre-show interview with Lenihan on the Dublin Horse Show social media channels but, as the big day got closer, the rider was in two minds about that. “I thought it would jinx me - imagine if I fell off at the first fence!” That video, and one since posted after Drawlin Dashing Lad’s win, have been viewed by the gelding’s new owners.

“The horse was actually sold before the show, but with the proviso that I got to ride him in Dublin,” revealed Lenihan. “He is due to leave for Lexington, Kentucky on Friday (yesterday).”

Michael Bowe and Patrickswell Sherry won the Performance Irish Draught six-year-old and over class \ 1st Class Images

Older horses

Five of the 12 starters were clear in the six-year-old and upwards class, which saw the champion and reserve sashes leave the arena on two Co Wexford-produced horses.

The win went to the Noel Sheridan-bred Patrickswell Sherry (Cappa Amadeus - Springvale Countess, by Castana), who went into the final phase in the lead on 271.5 and then topped the ride scores for a total of 306.5. The eight-year-old was ridden for his father J.J. by Michael Bowe, who had watched his sister Corena win this class on the grey gelding in 2024, having finished sixth in the younger class 12 months previously and second in 2022.

“As Corena couldn’t win the class again on him last year and I was too young, Dad, who hunts him all winter, gave him the year off from showing so I could compete him this season,” said 16-year-old Bowe of the winner.

Having made his Dublin debut in this class, Bowe rode his father’s five-year-old Kannan gelding Innisfree Chapo in the Junior/Young Rider event horse championship and partnered BCL Sherlock Holmes in the four-year-old young event horse class.

“Dad and I own that fellow between us,” commented the rider, who is heading into Fifth Year. “He’s by Dignified out of a Puissance mare and has a great jump. He is being aimed at the Breeders’ Classic and I hope to ride him there. Dad says it’s the only thing I’m going to be let off school for this year - there’ll be no days off to go hunting!”

Bowe revealed that, as his birthday is in October, he first attended the show ‘in utero’ and has been there every year since. He was supported last week by his emotional father J.J., his mother Deirdre (“who does all the work behind the scenes”), his sister Corena and his jumping coach Jason Higgins. He also paid tribute to his flat work coach, Anne Marie Dunphy.

While Bowe jokingly referred to his father perhaps competing the winner here next year and J.J. said he would be hunting him, Patrickswell Sherry was sold at Dublin to the same buyer from The Netherlands who last year purchased Two Mile Nigel.

The reserve champion on 297 points was Noreen O’Connor’s 12-year-old Keamore Diamond Clover gelding Ashwood Reggie, on whom the owner’s daughter Edwina was also second here last August. This grey has a great ID performance record behind him and has won all four of his EI90 Amateur starts.

O’Connor, the rider, wasn’t too despondent about being beaten. “No, I don’t mind. If we’d won, we wouldn’t be able to come back here next year!”