USA edge out Ireland to lift Aga Khan Trophy at RDS

The USA landed the prestigious Aga Khan Trophy at the the Dublin Horse Show as the home team filled the runner-up berth in the Nations Cup of Ireland for a second consecutive year.

Each of the first six combinations jumped clear in a high-class field, including Offaly's Darragh Kenny on the 17-year-old grey stallion VDL Cartello.

An encouraging start for Ireland in the Aga Khan Trophy through Darragh Kenny and VDL Cartello.

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Louth's Mark McAuley and GRS Lady Amaro then delivered another perfect clear for Ireland and that was followed by another flawless performance from Tipperary's Denis Lynch and Vistogrand.

Denis Lynch, competing on Vistogrand, during Aga Khan Day at the Dublin Horse Show

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Cian O'Connor and Fancy De Kergane finished with one fence down and a time fault, but with three first-round clears already on the board, that score was discarded and Ireland remained on zero.

Michael Blake's shared the lead with the USA at the halfway stage and they both had a two-fence advantage over Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Kenny and VDL Cartello had one fence down for Ireland at the start of the second round and the advantage tipped in USA's favour when Spenser Smith completed a double-clear performance with Keeneland.

McAuley and GRS Lady Amaro were clear until the last line, but the last two fences fell to leave them on eight faults.

Lynch and Vistogrand came home with one fence down second time out and that left Ireland tied with Belgium and Switzerland on eight faults heading into the last line riders, while USA held the lead on four faults.

O'C