Northern Ireland-owned horses dominated the placings on the gloriously sunny opening day of the Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

There was jubilation for Lurgan horseman David Campbell, whose stallion Derryinver Luxury Cruise won the opening four-year-old qualifier with Florencecourt rider Catherine Thornton.

Catherine, who runs a professional showjumping yard, is one of the province's leading producers of young horses.

This was a tough class for judges with 34 young four-year-old jumpers from across Ireland battling it out in the RDS Simmonscourt arena.

Catherine and Luxury Cruise scored a superb 101.33 to beat Irish international Marion Hughes with Irish Echo scoring 97.33. Catherine also finished eighth with her own home bred stallion Milano.

Samuel McAteer from Randalstown won both the Cob classes with Randalstown Landmark and Limited Edition while Clones rider Clement McMahon occupied first and second on Ulster horses in the seven-year-old championship qualifier.

McMahon partnered Valentino, owned by himself and Mrs Winifred Bingham of Antrim, to win the tough class in a jump off time of 33.13 seconds.

Belle Rock, owned and bred by Susan Stewart from Dungannon , was runner up in 33.43 giving McMahon a head start for the weekend championship final.

Kathleen Gallagher, the Limavady showjumping breeder was delighted when her home bred River Foyle, now leased to the Irish army, won the first international class of the show.

River Foyle, a grey gelding by Cavalier out of a Cruising mare won in 57.84 seconds to beat US rider Laura Kraut with Unique, clear in 58.78

Cian O'Connor occupied third place on Splendor ahead of GB rider Geoff Billington on Uppercut II.

French ace Roger Yves Bost on Jovis de Ravel won the Speed Stakes international with the fastest clear in 61.22 to beat Cian O'Connor and Baloufina, clear in 62.18

Ulster internationals Conor Swail and Jessica Kurten are in Dublin with a team of horses.

Jessica has brought her |brilliant new mare Myrtille de Paulois.

Jessica won last year's championship Longines Grand Prix with Libertina and was leading rider of the show.

This year she is planning to defend her Sunday Grand Prix title which carries a prize fund of €20,000.

Friday's Nations Cup promises to be a Battle of the Giants with GB bringing a superior squad of horses including the unique Robin Hood with Ben Maher.

The Nations Cup final will be a battle royale and Ireland intends to fight to the last with a squad of stallions including Livello with Cameron HAnley, Je T'aime Flamenco with Billy Twomey, Rancorrado with Cian O'Connor and Denis Lynch on the stunning Lantinus.

Today sees the four-year-old and five-year-old young event horse classes in the main arena, The Young Rider Speed Derby, International Speed Derby, Power and Speed and the Six Bar.

Young horse classes start at 9am with the judging of two year olds and three year olds in Ring 1 followed by the Irish Draught Stallions and Irish Draught mares and foals.

Ring 2 has Connemaras, Lightweight hunters, Ridden Connemaras and the Three year old loose jumping final for €18,000 takes place at Simmonscourt Arena from 6pm.