Murphy predicts fireworks today

Eventer Joseph Murphy believes Ireland can redress a disappointing dressage phase with a strong performance in today’s cross-country.

He and his team-mates lie 10th of the 13 countries vying for Olympic glory on a total of 152.10 penalties, but Murphy said we can “expect fireworks” over the Greenwich countryside today.

“It’s a nice course, but it will be a true test of stamina, with fairly steep hills,” said Murphy. “There’s nothing too technical, but you have to go quick to make the time and of course you run the risk of making a mistake.

“You can expect fireworks and it will be a totally different scoreboard tomorrow evening,” he added last night.

“While you never know how the day will go... we have a good team of cross-country riders and we are hopeful.

“The team orders are to go for it and we have nothing to lose and have a fighting chance,” said Murphy, whose dressage display on Saturday left him 53rd overnight.

Camilla Speirs lifted Irish spirits yesterday with a solid display on the diminutive Portersize Just A Jiff, scoring 47.60 penalties to put her equal 27th, with Aoife Clark and Master Crusoe in 32nd.

Mark Kyle’s performance with Coolio when last of the Irish was a disappointment, however, his 58.70pens putting him just ahead of Cork-based Michael Ryan and Ballylynch Adventure at the wrong end of the leaderboard.

Germany hold the gold medal position on 119.10pens.

Australia and Britain are breathing down their necks, however, with less than eight penalties separating the three nations.