Paul Kennedy is in line for his biggest team challenge to date when Ireland take on seven opponents in Friday’s important Division 1 Nations Cup of Italy in Rome.

Nations cups dominated last week’s show jumping headlines, but the international limelight over the next few days switches to the relatively new, mixed-nationality format that is the Global Champions League (GCL), writes Mike Dunne.

Greg Broderick feels the current form of MHS Automatic justifies him being favourite to lift The Underwriting Exchange Grand Prix at tonight’s final of the Jumping In The City Series at Shelbourne Park.

Kildare’s Alexander Butler won the grand prix at the second leg of The Underwriting Exchange Jumping In The City series at Cork’s Curraheen Park Greyhound Track.

It may be over 20 years since Billy Twomey last competed in his native Cork city, but he had no problems recalling it yesterday, considering he won a puissance on a horse called Larry Hagman.

A bronze medal at the World Cup final was plenty reason for nineteen-year-old show jumper Bertram Allen to declare himself "happy" last night.

Bertram Allen’s philosophy heading into this weekend’s World Cup finals in Las Vegas is fairly straightforward: Do your best and see where it takes you, writes John Tynan.

Ireland manager Robert Splaine yesterday had one piece of advice for Bertram Allen going into next week’s World Cup final: Play your usual game, writes John Tynan.

Eventer Sarah Ennis was “delighted” with her second place in the three-star class at Burgham Market in Northumberland yesterday, but even more so with the manner in which it was achieved.

Equestrian: Show jumpers Dermott Lennon and Paul O’Shea won feature classes on opposite sides of the Atlantic at the weekend.

Greg Broderick hopes to raise the temperature on Sunday in Thermal, California, where there will be a cool $1m (€940,000) on offer in the AIG Grand Prix.

Francis Connors retained his Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix League title at Banteer Show, Co Cork, yesterday.

It was a father/daughter affair for Britain’s legendary Whitaker family in the €50,000 Grand Prix at Millstreet International Horse Show yesterday, with Ellen winning the class and Steven taking the top prize in the Great Britain and Ireland Tour.

Tipperary rider Shane Breen has high hopes for Zarnita, the nine-year-old mare that gave him his second win in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hickstead, England, on Saturday.

Daniel Coyle hammered home his dominance of the HSI/Blue Grass Spring Tour at Mullingar on Saturday when notching up his fifth win of the series.

Olympic bronze medallist Cian O’Connor ensured himself a fitting send-off from the Discover Dublin Horse Show yesterday when third in the €200,000 Longines Grand Prix.

Paul Beecher yesterday claimed the famous Hickstead Derby for only the 13th time for Ireland in its 52-year history.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine and his high-performance committee have compiled selection criteria to determine who will represent Ireland at the Olympics, following a request from Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

IGGY AND ME by Jenny Valentine (Harper Collins; €5.92). It’s end of term and little Iggy is worried. “Who will look after the hamsters and the guinea pigs?” she asks.

THANK goodness the American people have switched off the Jerry Springer Show long enough to sit up and think about who is running their country.