A cool-headed clear from Greg Broderick on MHS Going Global last night ensured Ireland scraped through to tomorrow’s €1.5m Furusiyya Series final in Barcelona, Spain.

The Olympic dream of Greg Broderick, Ireland’s sole show jumper in Rio de Janeiro, ended abruptly yesterday as he failed to progress beyond the second qualifier.

“I apologise,” murmured a crestfallen Denis Lynch yesterday after his jump-off error at the last fence handed Italy a surprise victory in the nations cup at Dublin Horse Show.

Hopes are high that Ireland’s show jumpers will today repeat last year’s Nations Cup win at Dublin Horse Show and, while manager Robert Splaine was upbeat yesterday, he was saying little that might prove a hostage to fortune.

Cian O’Connor led a five-strong parade of Irish riders at the top of the leaderboard in the opening competition of the Dublin Horse Show yesterday.

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has not deviated from its assertion that MHS Going Global is eligible for the Olympics, and it is hopeful that it has “clarified” a query from the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) regarding the ownership of the horse ridden by Greg Broderick.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) yesterday listed Greg Broderick and MHS Going Global among the nominations for Ireland’s sole show jumping slot at the Olympics, but it is examining the horse’s eligibility amid speculation it may not comply with a rule on ownership.

Horse Sport Ireland last night rubbished speculation that the show jumping horse MHS Going Global is ineligible to represent Ireland in the Olympics.

Greg Broderick acknowledged he was “hopeful more than confident” ahead of his surprise nomination yesterday as Ireland’s sole show jumper at the Olympics with MHS Going Global.

Having not competed at the top level since last year, Greg Broderick and MHS Going Global laid down a late marker for Olympic selection yesterday, producing a double clear to help Ireland win the Furusiyya Series nations cup in a rain-soaked St Gallen, Switzerland.

Cian O’Connor declared on Facebook this week that he think’s “Ireland will win” today’s Furusiyya nations cup in St Gallen, Switzerland.

Show jumper Billy Twomey pocketed €30,000 yesterday when he won the Hamburg Derby in Germany on Diaghilev.

Show jumper Cian O’Connor boosted his Olympic aspirations when runner-up in the Million Dollar Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, last night.

Bertram Allen yesterday said he believes the fact he won Ireland’s single show jumping slot in the Olympics must have a significant bearing when it comes to selecting who will actually line out in the Games.

Cian O’Connor continued to demonstrate the Olympic credentials of Good Luck on Saturday, the pair finishing fourth in the five-star grand prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine underwent surgery for a broken wrist this week, but Taylor Vard, his stand in for tomorrow’s Furusiyya Series nations cup in Ocala, Florida, is upbeat about sending him a nice get-well present.

Show jumper Denis Lynch is within striking distance of qualifying for the World Cup after finishing runner-up with All Star in the penultimate qualifier in Zurich, Switzerland, yesterday.

Horse Sport Ireland has not ruled out taking the case involving Cian O’Connor to the Swiss federal courts.

Show jumper Cian O’Connor yesterday said he had “no regrets” after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected his appeal against the debacle at the European Championships that cost Ireland a place in the Olympics.

Cian O’Connor was tight-lipped last night as he flew out of Lausanne, Switzerland, following his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to secure a place for the Irish show jumping team in next year’s Olympics.

Trish Ryan and Sam Watson had one thing in common after their dressage tests in the CCI three-star at the Ballindenisk International Horse Trials, in that they were both surprised.

Joseph Murphy was “really happy” after helping Ireland to a solid start that left them fifth of 11 teams in the European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle, Scotland, yesterday.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled out any chance of an extra place being created for Ireland in the show jumping competition at next year’s Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Show jumper Cian O’Connor yesterday declared that “the Olympic dream ain’t over yet, by any means”.

Millstreet International Horse Show begins in earnest today and the numbers tell the story: Over 6,000 entries, 1,300 stables, 110 competitions, 10 countries represented, and over €200,000 in prizemoney.

Tipperary’s Denis Lynch (All Star 5) also gets the nod from Ireland manager Robert Splaine.

Ireland’s dominance of the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show came to end in yesterday’s feature €200,000 Longines Grand Prix, courtesy of American Kent Farrington.

Ireland show jumping manager Robert Splaine clasped the Aga Khan Trophy yesterday at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show and declared that a medal at the European Championships in a fortnight is not an unrealistic hope.

The Irish team will take to the stage in today’s Furusiyya Series nations cup at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show aiming to continue some stellar performances by the home contingent.