The wall started at a cool height of 1.80m, which all riders managed to sail over beautifully. The wall then started to climb steadily with the finishing height a dizzying 2.20m.
Only three riders were lucky enough to make it to the fifth and final round. 20 year old home rider Jack O'Donohue went first in the final round of his very first Puissance. He and the 15 year old stallion Acorad 3 (Acorado x Grosso Z) looked as though they might be the first to bow out as the enthusiastic stallion pulled heavily to left, almost crashing into the pillar. However, miraculously the pair jumped the wall clean and the crowd went wild.
Peter Smyth was next to go with the 10 year old difficult stallion Cavalier Rusticana (Try-Time x Cavalier Royale). Smyth had the tough task of keeping the very strong stallion anchored an focused, which worked well in the previous four rounds, but the stallion took off a little too far out and took the wall down with him. Last to go in the final round was crowd favourites Shane Breen and the 15 year old gelding Cisero (Errigal Flight x Ballinvella). They too cleared the wall with ease and shared the spoils with Jack O'Donohue.
In a poignant moment in the fourth round, Brazilian rider Marlon Modolo Zanotelli payed tribute to Venezuelan Show Jumper Andres Rodriguez who sadly passed away in January of this year. Zanotelli wore a shirt with Rodriguez's nickname 'Chipito' on the back. They both received a standing ovation after Zanotelli's round.
FULL RESULTS
Earlier in the day Italian rider Lorenzo de Luca won the JLT Dublin Stakes with the 10 year old gelding Limestone Grey. American rider Lauren Hough finished in second place with 13 year old gelding Waterford, while Italian rider Gianni Govoni took third place with the 13 year old mare Winn Winn.
FULL RESULTS