'Once-in-a-lifetime horse' JL Dublin following an emotional Olympic dream for Deirdre Johnston

Great Britain's three-day eventers will be among the very first athletes to be involved when the Olympic Games begin in earnest next weekend. By a week on Monday, we will know if another gold has been secured by defending team champions with the strongest squad to pick from in the world.

A racing connection is maintained among two returning medallists. Laura Collett, who has helped with remedial training for horses belonging to the likes of William Haggas and Olly Murphy, is back with the brilliant London 52, while Tom McEwen's new mount, JL Dublin, is part-owned by Deirdre Johnston. 

Alongside establishing Britain's most prolific Flat stable with husband Mark, Johnston is a keen hobby eventer who has competed at the grassroots version of the Badminton Horse Trials. 

The occasion has an acute poignancy because of her friendship with Nicola Wilson, who is based not far from their Middleham yard. JL Dublin was Wilson's ride before their fall at Badminton two years ago, when she sustained a neck injury which was not only career-ending but life-altering. She has shown inspirational positivity and resilience on her long road to recovery.

"It makes me emotional," says Johnston. "I had this massive dream to have a horse at Badminton. That went so badly wrong but at least it’s something completely different. He’s a very special horse, a once-in-a-lifetime horse, and I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet. It’ll only be when we get there that we’ll realise the magnitude of it all."

Johnston began to have a share in eventers about 14 years ago, having got to know Wilson and her mother, Mary Tweddle, through her own riding. She has owned JL Dublin in partnership with James and Jo Lambert since Wilson bought him as a four-year-old from a Holsteiner sale in Germany.

"Nic had very much thought he was going to be a superstar from the very early days," she recalls. "He was quite bullish and full of himself so she’d take him steady cross country, make him listen and learn. She spent a long time schooling, just took him gradually up the grades, always with the long-term picture in mind. 

Deirdre Johnston is excited about the prospect of JL Dublin's prospects at the OlympicsCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I think she knew this was an Olympic horse from very early on. He was on the shortlist last time but he was quite young then and we took him to the European Championships instead, which was fantastic and they won double gold there."

It was in that heartbreaking summer of 2022 that they would have to pick a new rider for 'Dubs' so that he could continue his career at the highest level.

"We made the decision with Nic," says Johnston. "We all sat down together and discussed it. Fortunately we all came up with the same idea that he’d go to Tom. There was no big connection with him, we looked at the riders that were possible, the horses they had, and it seemed a good fit."

McEwen, whose father is well-known Rossdales racecourse vet Bobby and is based at Princess Anne's Gatcombe Estate, took individual silver in Tokyo aboard his previous superstar Toledo De Kerser. Under his refined style this horse has continued to show incredible consistency and Johnston has been there for every step.

"It would have been quite tough for us to go back to Badminton, so this year and last year we opted to go to Kentucky, where he's been second both times," says Johnston.

"He was third in the five-star [highest-level] in France last year and has been to Holland and Germany already this year, but we’ve always been thinking of the Olympics. The whole programme has been geared to hopefully getting on the Olympic team and fortunately we’re very lucky to have done so.

"He's 13 and from now for the next three years should be the sort of peak of their careers. He's experienced enough to be doing these things but young enough to still have lots of energy."

Johnston says it is quite a different feeling to being involved with training a horse for a Derby, but explains that another of racing's most decorated figures has played their part in JL Dublin's preparation.

"I’m counting down the days," she says. "Tom phones and says he’s been cross-country schooling, so I think, 'That box is ticked, everything’s fine', he’s had a showjumping lesson with Tina Fletcher and he’s been at Nicky Henderson’s gallops, which he did before he went to Kentucky and Nicky has been fantastic to let him go there. 

"As we know with horses, there’s always something that can go wrong. It’s so huge that it’ll be a relief when we get there and get started."

Both Johnstons, along with son Angus, are heading out to watch a competition which is being held in the Palace of Versailles grounds, with their other son Charlie, now the training licence holder, preparing for an habitually rewarding meeting for the stable which is fast approaching.

"We're just away for the weekend; on Tuesday morning we'll leave and head straight to Goodwood," says Johnston.

McEwen, Collett and last year's European individual gold medal winner Ros Canter will be the three starters for the squad, with the travelling reserve, who can be brought on in the event of an injury, being the current world champion Yasmin Ingham. 

There is such talent available that Oliver Townend, statistically the number one rider on the planet for many years, has not even been selected.

Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett is returning for another shot in Paris with her star horse London 52Credit: Edward Whitaker

"They got team gold last time and Tom was individual silver so he knows what it’s all about," says Johnston. "There were no spectators in Tokyo so they say it’ll be very different for them this time, a proper Olympics. 

"The strength in depth in British eventing is just amazing. It was so close and we felt very privileged to be included because there could have been any number of them; they could have filled three teams."

Others to watch

Ireland’s team would be a much bigger price for gold in eventing but there was plenty of competition for the spots. The team consists of Austin O’Connor, Sarah Ennis and Susie Berry, whose mother Caroline has bred many smart jumpers from her base in County Down, including Grade 1 winner Battleoverdoyen. 

Lucy Latta, a first cousin of Grand National-winning rider Robbie Power who in May became the first Irishwoman since trainer Jessica Harrington in 1983 to reach the podium at Badminton, missed out on a first-team slot along with Sam Watson, who has recently become involved in preparing National Hunt horses for sale. 

Ireland’s showjumping team includes one of the country’s most successful international equestrians in Cian O’Connor, who brings Belgian warmblood Maurice to Paris. 

Among the pupils at his famed academy outside Dublin are the Wachman brothers, Max and Tom, who are regarded as bright young prospects. Their father is Classic-winning trainer David, and their grandparents John and Sue Magnier take a great interest in their careers, also owning some of the horses in the yard.

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