Twomey ‘disappointed’ after being axed for nations cup
Ireland are in a relegation battle in the Furusiyya Series and Splaine cited a dip in form for Twomey’s horse Diaghilev, as he opted to put in US-based Offaly rider Darragh Kenny, who’s proven a hot ticket across Europe in recent weeks.
“Billy has been a fantastic servant to the Irish team and there is much more to come,” said Splaine last night. “Darragh has fantastic recent form, however, which is hard to ignore. We are under no illusions that Friday will be a mammoth task and it is my job to field the best possible team.”
Kenny continued in style yesterday afternoon, winning the feature class on the opening day of the show aboard Picolo, after Cameron Hanley had led a clean sweep for the Irish in the opening contest.
Twomey conceded Diaghilev was “not going as well as one would like”.
“Horses go in and out of form, but his nations cup appearances previously were good, for example in La Baule [France], and Lummen [Belgium],” said England-based Twomey, a stalwart of the Irish set-up, who has featured twice on teams that have won the famed Aga Khan trophy.
At Lummen in May, Diaghilev opened with four faults, but followed with a clear as Ireland finished equal third. Two weeks later in La Baule, he jumped 8/0.
The 11-year-old bay gelding’s dip in form was highlighted last Sunday week, however, when it finished with 13 faults in the grand prix at Villach Treffen, Austria.
By comparison, Kenny scored 4/1 with Imothep over the two rounds of the German nations cup three weeks ago, having just notched up a string of wins at the big show in Spruce Meadows, Canada. Last Friday, he provided a double clear as Splaine’s charges finished equal fourth in the Furusiyya nations cup at Hickstead in England.
Ireland are lying third last in the lucrative series and are desperate for a good result tomorrow to avoid relegation.
Twomey gave the team his full backing.
“Of course, it goes without saying that I am fully supportive of the team and I feel they are more than capable of a good result on Friday.”
He also said he was not giving up on winning a spot on the squad for the forthcoming World Equestrian Games, saying “I’d hope to be battling for a place”.
Tomorrow’s revised squad sees Kenny and Imothep join Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V), Dermott Lennon (Loughview Lou Lou), Denis Lynch (All Star 5), and Cian O’Connor (Quidam’s Cherie). Splaine will select a four-rider team tonight.
Yesterday’s two international classes were dominated by the Irish, with Cameron Hanley leading the charge on Newton du Haut Bois in the Speed Stakes. The Mayo rider had a second to spare over Thomas Ryan (Cruise On Clover), followed by Michael Duffy (Westland Ruby) close behind in third and Shane Breen (Ominerale Courcelle) in equal fourth.
Darragh Kenny’s victory in the Irish Sports Council Classic saw him get the better of a strong field, headed by Briton Ben Maher on Aristo Z. Kenny was almost a second faster than the world No3 in the 14-horse jump-off.
