Kürten named in Irish Nations Cup squad

JESSICA KÜRTEN has been named on the Irish squad for next Friday’s Swiss Nations Cup.

The German-based Antrim rider will ride either Lektor or API Largo, having lost the ride on her best horses, following a falling out with owner Georgina Forbes.

Last month, the Irish Examiner revealed that Forbes was likely to transfer the ride on Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois and Castle Forbes Vivaldo to French rider Roger-Yves Bost, which was confirmed this week by a French website. The super mare Castle Forbes Libertina, now aged 15, is to be retired at next month’s Mullingar Show.

Kürten was selected by manager Robert Splaine for the Swiss fixture in St Gallen alongside Cameron Hanley (Southwind VDL), Shane Sweetnam (Amaretto Darco), both of who featured on the winning team in the FEI Nations Cup League opener in France a fortnight ago. Also nominated are Alexander Butler (Will Wimble) and Jennifer Crooks (SF Uryadi), half of the team that won the Promotional League nations cup in Copenhagen, Denmark, last weekend.

Hanley and Sweetnam are also part of the squad for tomorrow’s nations cup in Rome, along with fellow French Nations Cup victors Cian O’Connor and Billy Twomey. Shane Carey and Lancero have replaced Shane Breen in the Eternal City. Splaine will select his four-man team today.