Irish riders ready to rise to the occasion as Madrid looms

IRELAND lie third in the FEI Nations Cup Series and preparations for a shot at Olympic qualification at next month’s European Championships in Madrid are on target, so, all in all, manager Robert Splaine is entitled to be reasonably satisfied.

Don’t, however, expect anything but a supreme effort on his part or that of his team in today’s nations cup at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show. The RDS turf will always be hallowed to Irish riders who annually marvel and revel in the support they receive from the fans. This year will be no different and giving credence to the riders’ commitment is the likelihood that a number of horse/rider combinations today will also feature in Madrid.

Ireland came close last year to giving the fans their first win since 2004, placing equal second, and Splaine is not ruling out ending the seven-year hiatus.