It was a day of upsets in the RDS showrings yesterday, with some hotly-tipped favourites missing out on the honours in the hunter classes.
Aaron McCusker's Connswater, widely expected to top the line in the senior heavyweights, failed to make an appearance, but McCusker booked his place in the main arena when lifting the four-year-old lightweight class with Connswater River, winner in-hand at last year's show.
June Lewis's Countdown was the talking horse of the lightweights in the build-up to Dublin. Kelly Troughton had ridden Lewis's horse, Lorenzo, to take the supreme title in the main arena 12 months ago and there had been hopes that Countdown could follow in his stablemate's hoofprints, but the four-year-old was also a no-show, giving Connswater River free rein to take the red after deposing Hugh Dunlop's Avolan in the final line-up.
But the McCusker horse will have to be in top form to hold off the challenge of the seven-year-old Jack O Diamonds when the lightweight championship is decided this morning.
Winner at the Royal Highland, Jack O Diamonds has both age and experience on his side and will be a tough one to beat. Also in contention for the lightweight title will be Valerie Breen's four-year-old Banglestown Imp, which seems set to claim the mare honours.
Ann Smurfit's four-year-old Bow River is favourite to take the mediumweight honours and it is hard to see Kieran and Maireád Ryan's Silverstream being passed over for the heavyweight title. Championship judging starts in the main arena at 9.30 this morning.