Ireland’s eventers are coming into the Tokyo Games with fire in their belly. All three team members, and one of the horses, were on the side that won World Championship silver three years ago in Tryon, USA.

All are making their Olympic debuts.

Howth-born Sarah Ennis (46) who lives near Dunboyne in Meath finished fifth individually at those World Championships with Stellor Rebound, but this time partners 12-year-old Woodcourt Garrison, known as ‘Tyson’ because he has a lot of attitude.

Carlow’s Sam Watson (35) rides the 12-year-old Tullabeg Flamenco, and Kildare-based Cathal Daniels has brought the brilliant little mare Rioghan Rua which he rode to that team silver in 2018 before clinching individual European bronze in 2019.

Daniels and ‘Red’ have been winning medals all the way from Junior European team gold in 2013. Eight years later, the 24-year-old rider and the 14-year-old mare look like individual medal contenders if things go right over the next few days.

British-based Corkman Austin O’Connor is reserve with Colorado Blue.

A new format for these Games has reduced teams to three, with all scores counting, but the Irish aren’t intimated by that.

“I think it’s a format that will suit us. It’s just about doing your job, doing what you do in our preparation events and what you know you can do,” Watson said yesterday.

“It’s not false confidence, we’ve been working with a world-class coach and a world-class back-up team.”

Dressage begins today with morning and evening sessions and another tomorrow morning.

Then the horses are transported to Sea Forest, where the cross-country action will take place Sunday morning over Derek di Grazia’s course.

On Monday, the showjumping phase at Baji Koen will decide the medals for teams and individuals.