Ireland impress but relegation still looms

IRELAND’S team manager Robert Splaine last night took only positives from yesterday’s third place in the nations cup at the Dublin Horse Show, despite the result failing to lift them from the bottom of the Samsung Super League.

Having accrued a miserly six faults, the team that featured two Aga Khan Cup debutants — Shane Breen and Cameron Hanley — failed in their aim: to finish well ahead of relegation rivals the Netherlands. Two faults separated Ireland from the Dutch, who finished runner-up to Germany.

However, Sweden’s second-last place yesterday has seen them replace the Dutch as Ireland’s main contenders for relegation and now only 2.125 points separates the two countries heading to next month’s final in Barcelona, where double points are on offer.