Star studded line-up for Treo Eile Christmas Show

A host of racing and equestrian stars are taking part in this year's Treo Eile Christmas show on Thursday December 14th at the Emerald Equestrian Centre near Enfield on the Kildare/Meath border.

The first of five events on the show programme starts at 1pm, featuring the HRI Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic — a team competition to showcase the very best of Ireland's retrained racehorses.

The team competition has attracted some of racing’s brightest stars to captain the teams including Rachael Blackmore, Jack Kennedy, Gary Carroll, Patrick Mullins, Robbie Power, Rory Cleary, Katie Walsh, Davy Russell, Norman Williamson and Charlie Swan.

Each team captain will be joined by two show jumping or eventing competitors and a pony rider who will each ride a variety of former racehorses over a course of jumps followed by a jump off to decide the winners of the coveted Horse Racing Ireland Perpetual Cup.

Professional riders include Dublin Horse Show’s puissance winner, Commandant Geoff Curran from the Irish Army Equitation School, Olympic eventer Joseph Murphy and European medallist, Elizabeth 'Esib' Power will also line-out for the team event.

Former jockey Robbie Power will be reunited with Sizing John to try and add the HRI Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic Cup to their trophy cabinet. The pair were victorious in three Gold Cups in 2017; the Leopardstown Gold Cup, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Punchestown Gold Cup.

Robbie, who was involved in retraining Sizing John with his sister Elizabeth and has Sizing John at his home, said: "The Treo Eile Christmas show is a fantastic event and our family is delighted to be a part of it. Watching these horses turn their hand to a new job is very rewarding and says so much about their versatility.

"When he is not enjoying his leisurely life hacking around, John loves competing - he showed it on the racecourse and at the Dublin Horse Show last August when he won the hotly contested ITM Racehorse to Riding Horse class with Kate Harrington on board. He will be primed and ready for Thursday December 14."

John Osborne, Equine Welfare and Bloodstock Director at HRI, commented: "The Treo Eile Christmas show brings all equestrian industries together and shows how versatile the thoroughbred is in terms of adjusting to a different lifestyle after racing and it's wonderful to see these horses still going strong years later."

Racing TV's Kevin O'Ryan, one of the MCs for the evening, said: "The Treo Eile Christmas show is a brilliant event for all the family and includes the very best human and equine athletes from both the racing and sports horse industries. It highlights the abilities of the thoroughbred racehorse and how easily they can transition after racing into other disciplines. There are now lots more opportunities for retiring racehorses and the Treo Eile programme encourages their participation."

Tickets are E15pp. and family tickets are E40 for two adults and two children. Parking is free but limited so all spectators are asked to register online for a car parking space.

To buy tickets, register for a car parking space and to make entries, visit: https://www.itsplainsailing.com/org/te

Treo Eile Christmas show programme

* 1pm The Weatherbys Ireland GSB Ltd. Thoroughbred Discovery

* 3pm The equuip Pony Christmas Cracker

* 5pm Course walk for show jumping teams

* 5:30pm The Moyglare Stud Parade of Champions

Douvan. Al Boum Photo, Renneti, Faugheen, Tiger Roll, Woodland Opera, General Principle, Arvika Ligeonniere, Milliner, Briar Hill and Sizing John.

* 6pm The HRI Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic

Celebrity team competition with a host of racing and equestrian stars.

HRI Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic teams:

Rachael Blackmore, County Tipperary - team captain

Mia De Bromhead, County Waterford

Sarah Curry, County Wicklow

Lucca Stubington, County Antrim

Gary Carroll, County Kildare - team captain

Timmy Considine, County Meath

Jo Andrews, County Meath

Emma Sweeney, County Meath

Rory Cleary, County Kildare - team captain

Orla Cleary, County Kildare

Felicity Ward, County Cork

Sarah Gayer, County Cork

Jack Kennedy, County Kerry — team captain

Paddy Finnegan, County Meath

Seanin Mahon, County Meath

Amy Parsons, County Meath

Patrick Mullins, County Carlow - team captain

Ronan Duffy, County Kildare

Louise Duffy, County Meath

Stephanie McGlynn, County Kildare

Robbie Power, County Meath - team captain

Lucy Kent, County Waterford

Jamie Buckley, County Meath

Elizabeth 'Esib' Power, County Meath

Davy Russell, County Cork - team captain

Lily Russell, County Cork

Joseph Murphy, County Down

Rachael O'Callaghan, County Westmeath

Charlie Swan, County Tipperary - team captain

Kiki Curran, County Meath

Geoff Curran, County Meath

Olivia Swan, County Tipperary

Katie Walsh, County Kildare - team captain

Eliza Wardell, County Wicklow

Sarah Wardell, County Wicklow

Amy Walsh, County Cork

Norman Williamson, County Meath - team captain

Kian 'Tubs' McNally, County Armagh

Carla Williamson, County Meath

Emma Newsam, County Down