NEWS

Michael Slavin

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With a tough two months ahead in the Furusiyya League, the Barcelona Final and the Alltech WEG, Irish senior team manager Robert Splaine was in need of some inspiration and he got it at Aachen last week.

Although his team had to be content with seven out of eight, he still got very promising results from three new combinations that were jumping at this level for the first time.

Darragh Kenny and Imothep jumped a four and a single fault clear; Cameron Hanley and Living the Dream also had a single fault round, while Shane Breen and Golden Hawk got around with one down.

When it was over, Splaine said: “Here at one of the greatest testing grounds in the world. I learned a lot and it gives me encouragement for both the short and the long term.”

Above all else, it gives him more in the way of selection material as he faces into the tough tests ahead. Also at Aachen, Darragh Kenny scored inspired wins on Chin Quidam VDL in the young horse Championship and on Picolo in the Two-Phase.

Shane Breen had a speedy win on Calido Boy. Four faults prevented Shane winning the €1m Rolex Grand Prix that was won by Christian Ahlmann on the 12-year-old Contendro stallion Codex One.

Meanwhile, Billy Twomey and the Irish-bred 10-year-old Gypsy Duke stallion, Ardcolum Duke, won the Grand Prix at the two-star Keysoe. CL