Sameh El Dahan relishes his chance to bid for Prague Play-Offs triumph

Balmoral Show 2021 Grand Prix winner Sameh El Dahan represents Sycamore Stables (Templepatrick) at the world’s richest show-jumping weekend, the € 7.2m Prague Play-Offs (£ 6million).

l Dahan, who rides for the Sloan Allen WKD show jumping team and now also for Great Britain, is delighted to have qualified for Prague on the County Antrim WKD mare Love Me, by Je t love Flamenco.

El Dahan said from Prague: “Qualifying for the most exclusive Grand Prix on the planet with our breeding mare WKD Aimez Moi and being one of the top 15 riders in the world for the second year is an incredible feeling.

“Regardless of the outcome on Saturday night, being here in Prague fulfills my personal 2021 goal. I am delighted to be a part of this spectacular final.”

Newry’s show jumping rider Lorcan Gallagher won the $ 100,000 Grand Prix of Thermal, Calif. With 13-year-old mare Cana Van de Blom. They won the only double clear and finished third in the previous three-star Grand Prix.

He is now returning to his base in Wellington, Florida, where he will compete on the winter circuit.

Paul O’Shea of ​​Limerick won the five-star Grand Prix of Monterrey in Mexico with Chancelloress by Chacco Blue, owned by Niall Carey and Trelawney Farm.

O’Shea, who trains with French ace Henri Prudent, was notable to win in 38.93 as the Chancellor cut corners at high speed, beating Canadians Mario Deslauriers and Bardolina by one second.

O’Shea explained: “The mare is special, she has very good reflexes and I hardly had to push.”

Jordan Coyle led Centriko Volo to victory in the 1m45 speed class in Monterrey to win in 61.67 by four hundredths of a second.

Other Irish riders competing in the Prague Play-Offs this weekend include Michael G Duffy, Darragh Kenny, Denis Lynch, Mark McAuley, Michael Pender and Max Wachman.