OLYMPIC champion Blyth Tait will be campaigning his Atlanta gold medal ride Ready Teddy in the dressage phase of the Nissan international three-day event at Punchestown this afternoon.
The star-studded field also includes the recently crowned Mitsubishi Motors champion David O'Connor. Fresh from his triumph at Badminton with the Irish-bred Custom Made, O'Connor has another Irish export, Giltedge, for his assault on the Punchestown course this week.
The Irish hand has been substantially weakened by the withdrawal of Lucy Thompson's European gold medallist, Welton Romance.
America's Bruce Davidson, winner at Badminton two years ago and former double world champion, is first into the dressage arena this morning, followed by Andrew Nicholson, a member of New Zealand's gold medal team at the inaugural World Equestrian Games in Stockholm seven years ago. Also appearing today is 1992 Olympic champion Malt Ryan.
