Ireland’s elite show jumpers are to gather in Dublin next month to formulate a strategy for championship success in what Darragh Kenny has described as a “hugely positive” development.

Cian O’Connor was confident last night that Ireland’s show jumping team can battle back in the European Championships today in Aachen, Germany, to secure Olympic qualification.

Equestrian: Lady luck is capricious, as show jumper Cameron Hanley will attest.

Commandment John Ledingham has given a qualified expression of interest to becoming Ireland’s next show jumping team manager, James Kernan is in no doubt that he would like the role, while Jack Doyle has said he would “give consideration to it”.

Kieran O’Gorman of the West Cork Horse Breeders this week declared that “the school represents great value for money” and he questioned if McCarthy was being “penny wise, but pound foolish”.