Equestrian: Eddie Macken makes his comeback to Hickstead after a 10-year absence for the Longines Royal International Horse Show and Samsung Super League Nations Cup this week.
The brilliant Irishman wrote showjumping history 29 years ago as the only rider to win four consecutive British Jumping Derby titles at the Sussex venue on his legendary mount Boomerang.
Now based in Canada, Macken, 58, stepped down from top-level competition to concentrate on producing young horses.
He will return to Hickstead, however, in confident mood with Tedechine Sept, who has shown promising form at the Calgary International shows and is part of Ireland's team from which their quartet for Friday's €120,000 Samsung FEI Super League Nations Cup will be chosen.
"At last I have one good enough to hold his own at grand prix level," he said.
Macken will be hoping a good showing at Hickstead may earn him a recall to the Aga Khan team ahead of the Dublin Horse Show.
"That is entirely a matter for Robert Splaine," said the rider recntly. "At present I am focusing on Hickstead. As I will be in Europe at that time, I had already intended jumping in Dublin as an individual."
Macken has jumped on 28 Aga Khan teams at the RDS where he competed for 30 consecutive years, the last time being in 2000.
He was also chef d'equipe to the team who won the trophy in 2004.