Merveldt plays down prospect of medal

“I would have to put wings on him,” said dressage rider Anna Merveldt yesterday of her horse Coryolano, as she mulled the flight of fancy that would be winning a medal.

Merveldt and her gelding begin their Olympic quest today at 1.25pm and, despite setting an Irish record score last November, she was taking a pragmatic approach and refusing to be drawn on what she considers the unattainable.

“I, realistically, do not think I am in with a chance of a medal. Absolutely not. I would have to put wings on him,” said the relaxed Canadian-born woman, who was raised in Naas, Co Kildare, spent 25 years in Germany, but now calls Milan, Italy, her home.