My suggestion would be possibly check out different trialing venues as each will have different requirements. Then join an affiliated club so you actually see the dogs that compete work. Then really polish the dog's training. You do have one thing going for you, you're competing with an Irish setter. You'll surprise alot of judges and they'll look hard at whether it can hunt or not. Even possibly letting a few unproductives go. The more attention you bring upon your dogs, the better. But it could also go the opposite way, if the judge already made up his mind then changing it is gonna be real hard.

BTW, is your dog a true Irish setter? Any red setter blood?