Splaine confirms Irish Aga Khan line-up

Horse Sport Ireland Team Manager Robert Splaine has announced his team for the Nations' Cup at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show on Friday 7 August.

The team in alphabetical order is:

Cameron Hanley: SIEC Livello
Denis Lynch: Lantinus
Cian O’Connor: Rancorrado
Billy Twomey: Je t’Aime Flamenco

Speaking after the announcement Splaine said that the team had been particularly difficult to pick this year.

He said: 'After our win in Sweden and our good showing in Hickstead we had a number of riders in the equation for selection and it was a very difficult choice. I am very confident that the team selected will perform very well.'

Commenting on the Aga Khan team, Splaine said that all the riders were very experienced at the highest level.

He stressed: 'Cameron Hanley has put in strong performances for the team this year and delivered a vital clear round with 'SIEC Livello' during our win in Sweden last month. Denis Lynch and 'Lantinus' have been excellent all year, culminating in their win in the Aachen Grand Prix and their clear round to help win the Nations' Cup in Sweden for Ireland.

'Cian O’Connor and 'Rancorrado' have put in some very good team performances and they performed very well in Hickstead last week. Bill Twomey is an outstanding rider and while 'Je T’aime Flamenco' is still very young he has gone very well this year and won the Grand Prix in St Gallen.'

Splaine announced that Darragh Kerins and Night Train would be first reserve.

'This year countries can only name four combinations but substitutions are allowed up to the start of the show and we are very lucky to have a combination of Darragh Kerins and Night Train, who delivered a double clear in Sweden in his first Nations' Cup, on standby,' he said.

Splaine concluded by saying that as well as being vital in its own
right, the Nations' Cup in Dublin would be important as a final chance to view the combinations before the European Championships which take place in Windsor in August of this year.