Managers likely to use Nations Cup Series as Olympic trials

The FEI Nations Cup Series begins today in La Baule, France, and, important as it is, it will play second fiddle to the Olympics.

Conversely, it takes on greater relevance, in that managers will use it to assess form as they deliberate over their London 2012 selections.

Accordingly, with Ireland the only nation of eight not fielding a team in the Olympics, boss Robert Splaine is expecting the series to be even more competitive.