The squad of five for next week’s competition in the Hickstead Nations’ Cup in England on August 1st is Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V), Shane Breen (Golden Hawk), Cameron Hanley (Antello Z), Darragh Kenny (Imothep) and Denis Lynch (Abbervail van het Dingeshof). Splaine will choose the team of four riders in the coming days.

The five-strong squad for the Aga Khan Trophy competition on August 8th on home soil in Dublin includes Bertram Allen (Molly Malone V), Dermott Lennon (Loughview Lou Lou (ISH)), Denis Lynch (All Star 5), Cian O’Connor (Quidam’s Cherie) and Billy Twomey (Diaghilev).

Commenting on his selection, Splaine said: “My choice of Hickstead as a points-scoring venue for the Furusiyya league just before Dublin is opportune, but not just for that reason. With Hickstead being held the week directly before Dublin, it gives me the opportunity to view all of our World Equestrian Games (WEG) contenders in action at five-star level within the space of two weeks.

“Therefore once Dublin is over, and with current and previous form at hand, this will put me in the best possible position to make my WEG selections, as they have to be made soon after Dublin.”

The show jumping element of the World Equestrian Games, which will be an Olympic qualifying event, takes place in Normandy, France in the first week of September. After six rounds of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, France heads the leaderboard in the Europe Division 1 League on 345 points, followed by Spain in second on 282.5 points, Switzerland in third on 280 and The Netherlands on 250 points. Belgium and Sweden share fifth place on 220 points, Ukraine sixth on 170 and Germany is in eighth on 160. Ireland and Britain, host nations for the next two rounds, share the bottom spot in ninth place on 130 points apiece and both will be gunning for good results in Hickstead and Dublin.