Sound the klaxon - it's less than two weeks to go until the start of the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby Meeting! It won't be long until the horseboxes start rolling through the gates, and that first horse trots through the archway into the Longines International Arena. And of course, it means the 60th Al Shira'aa Derby is nearly here, so it's time for us to reveal the potential runners and riders for what could be one of the most open Derby fields in years. 

After a lengthy absence, we can't wait to welcome you all back for our first international show of 2022. Tickets for the show (23-26 June) are on sale now, with advance discounts applying until the evening of 17 June. Under-15s go free every day except Sunday, when accompanied by an adult and booked in advance.

In this edition of our regular enewsletter, we've got another section of our Hickstead Derby history recap. We've reached the 2000s, when a certain Olympic champion shot into the limelight at the tender age of 22. Talking of which, Ben Maher joins Trevor Breen for the latest in our 'In conversation with...' series, where Ben reveals why winning the Derby transformed his career.

Three leading contenders will be hoping to claim victory in the 60th Al Shira’aa Derby on Sunday 26 June, having come very close a number of times. Irish star Shane Breen, who is based at Hickstead, finished in third place in 2019. He has been second and third on a number of occasions, but is yet to win the Derby. He will have a strong hand of potential chances, with both Golden Hawk and Can Ya Makan likely to line-up for the class. 

Another rider who has come tantalisingly close is Harriet Nuttall. Harriet and her hugely experienced Derby campaigner A Touch Imperious have finished second in the class four times and come third twice, despite jumping clear round the tough Derby course on two occasions. 

Holly Smith has finished second and third in the Al Shira’aa Derby in recent years, and she brings her top Grand Prix horse Fruselli for his first attempt at Hickstead’s most famous class. Holly, who represented Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, used to event before making the switch to showjumping, so is well suited to the challenging Derby fences. If either Holly or Harriet are victorious, it would make them the first female winner of the Derby since Tina Fletcher in 2011. 

Click below to find out who will be their main challengers in what could be one of the most open Derby fields in years. 

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For Ben Maher, winning the Hickstead Derby aged 22 transformed his career, opening up doors to international competition. For Trevor Breen, winning the Derby in 2014 was the realisation of an ambition after coming so close for several years. The pair sit down together to reflect on some of their Derby memories, ahead of this year's 60th Al Shira'aa Derby on Sunday 26 June.

The Swiss are victorious on home turf, while Brits just miss out on the runner-up spot in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup in St Gallen. 

Find out which riders will be in action in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup in Sopot. 

In our countdown of the history of the Hickstead Derby, ahead of this year's special 60th edition, we've reached the beginning of the 20th century.

Just one year into the new millennium and a new name was added to the Derby - Peter Charles and the grey mare Corrada. The mare was brilliant round the Derby, jumping clear three years in a row to lift the trophy three times in succession from 2001-2003. 

In 2004, John Whitaker had his fourth win on catch ride Buddy Bunn, who was normally ridden by William Funnell. When Funnell had a groin strain and had to miss the ride in the Derby, John took over at the last moment and jumped a fabulous clear to give Douglas Bunn his only homebred Derby winner. 

Ben Maher had just missed out that year by a time fault, and the following year the 22-year-old was making no such mistake, winning on board Alfredo II and doing the double with a Speed Derby win on Mercurius. 

William Funnell had always wanted to win the Hickstead Derby and kept coming close to doing so, before Cortaflex Mondriaan finally gave him that longed-for victory in 2006. The pair repeated their win in 2008 and 2009, in what was the 50th anniversary of Hickstead opening - watch their brilliant round here. They missed out in 2007, when Cassabachus gave Geoff Billington his first and only win in the class. 

* Find out who will win this year's Al Shira'aa Derby on Sunday 26 June. 

Enter our prize draw for your chance to win a selection of items from our official Hickstead 60th anniversary merchandise range, including a jacket, hoody and hat. Entries close 15 June.