The Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show kicks off as planned at the RDS today, despite fears that it would fall victim to guidelines put in place by the Department of Agriculture following a second confirmed case of foot-and- mouth disease in Britain.
The international teams were mostly safely ensconced in Ireland before the initial outbreak in Surrey was confirmed on Friday. Although the import of cattle, sheep and pigs from Britain is banned, the department guidelines still permit horses to enter Ireland, providing they have the right documentation.
An EU health certificate must accompany all horses entering Ireland or returning to Ireland from Britain, but horses coming down from the North do not need any certification.
RDS chief executive Michael Duffy confirmed to The Irish Timeslast night that no additional demands had been made by the Department following yesterday's second confirmed case of the disease in Britain.
"The department obviously feels that the guidelines they've given us are appropriate at the moment", Mr Duffy said. "We're in regular contact with the Department and we're following the guidelines they've given us."
The guidelines include the disinfecting and destruction of any straw that came in with the international teams and disinfectant mats at the horsebox entrance to the Simmonscourt extension from Shrewsbury Road.
The visiting international teams number eight this week, rather than the seven that traditionally challenge Ireland for the Aga Khan Cup as part of the Samsung Super League.
With Ireland now out of the Super League following demotion at the end of last season, the Irish team only gets a place on the start list for Friday's Nations Cup as the host nation, but they will be battling it out against the top eight nations in the world.
Belgium, France, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands and the US will be in line for Super League points, but although the Irish are ineligible for the points, victory would be a huge morale boost going into next week's European championships in Germany.
The Irish Aga Khan team will be chosen from the squad of Capt Shane Carey, Comdt Gerry Flynn, Cian O'Connor, Cameron Hanley and Dublin team debutant Conor Swail.
Missing from the list is world number three Jessica Kurten. She will not be competing this week as she is saving her fire-power for next week's European championships in Germany, where Team Ireland will be bidding for Olympic qualification.
The Co Antrim rider will make a flying visit to the RDS on Friday, but not just to cheer on her teammates in the Aga Khan. She has been training five inner-city Dublin teenagers for Diarmuid Gavin's new television series, Diarmuid's Pony Kids, and the quintet will be making their RDS debut in the Ballsbridge main arena immediately after the Aga Khan Cup.
A former member of Ireland's Aga Khan Cup team will be remembered at the RDS. A trophy commemorating the late Paul Darragh, who was on Ireland's winning team between 1977 and 1979, will be presented to the winner of the Speed Derby.
A total of €720,000 in prize money is on offer over the five- day fixture, with €470,000 of that earmarked for the international show jumping.
The biggest prize fund of the week is the €125,000 on offer for the Longines Grand Prix, which winds up the show on Sunday, while Saturday's programme boasts the world's richest Puissance when the high-jump specialists tackle the big wall for €35,000 from Land Rover.