British facing major battle to avoid relegation
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BRITISH backs are to the wall going into today's Aga Khan Cup, which is the last leg of the 2009 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series.
The Irish team is drawn sixth to go, and team manager Robert Splaine said yesterday that the pressure has been lifted off his side as good results in recent weeks have ensured survival in the premiership of international team jumping for another season.
But the British face a mighty battle, as not only must they win, but they need both Sweden and Belgium to have a bad day if they are to avoid relegation.
A total of 10 countries have contested the series since it kicked off in La Baule in France in May and from the outset Italy was in trouble and quickly doomed to the second division for 2010.
The British however, now look in danger of joining them as the two bottom-placed nations will be relegated.
Chef d'Equipe, Derek Ricketts, admitted that he got the plan wrong at the beginning of the season by concentrating on choosing the right team for this month's European Championships in Windsor, and taking his eye off the ball with regards to the Meydan series.
"That was a mistake" he said, "but we'll be going out there with all guns blazing tomorrow and if we go down, we'll go down fighting."
Victory
Yesterday Shane Breen recorded the third Irish victory of the show when topping the Speed Derby with Mullaghdrin Gold Rain, and he wasn't the only one celebrating this success.
The 11-year-old gelding, a prolific Derby winner but also a good Grand Prix horse, is one of five bred by Noel Cawley competing at this week's show, so the former Bord Bainne supremo could be in line for the coveted Breeder's Award.
Speed Derby runner-up was Cian O'Connor who, riding Rancorrado, will be second into the ring for Ireland today. Cameron Hanley will lead the way with Southwind and Billy Twomey will be third-line rider with Je T'Aime Flamenco, with Denis Lynch and Lantinus as anchors.
The Irish are a group of hardened campaigners and each has survived his own personal trip to hell and back in recent years.
But after all the disappointments and setbacks, the only thing they will all be focusing on today however, is the prize every Irish rider wants to hold in his hands -- the coveted Aga Khan Cup.
- Louise Parkes
