Thursday’s first round of the Furusiyya FEI Nations’ Cup World Final at Barcelona in Spain will see the Irish team line out as follows, following today’s selection by show jumping manager Robert Splaine:

Shane Breen and Golden Hawk
Darragh Kenny and Go Easy De Muze
Denis Lynch and All Star 5
Greg Broderick and MHS Going Global

Ireland has been drawn 17th to jump of 18 teams competing in the first round.

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Irish show jumping team manager Robert Splaine

The top eight teams will then compete in Saturday’s €1.5 million final, with the remaining 10 teams taking part in the Challenge Cup final, which offers a prize fund of €300,000.

The first round takes place at 3pm Irish time, and can be seen on (subscription) livestream at www.feitv.org.

Team manager Robert Splaine said tonight: “This is the high point of FEI Furusiyya league jumping for 2016. With 18 world class teams contesting the final here in Barcelona, competition will be intense but we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Scores in the first round on Thursday will not count in Saturday’s final, which sees all teams start on zero penalties. Splaine will also have the option of replacing one combination in the final with fifth man Anthony Condon and Aristo, should he see fit.

Ireland finished fifth in the 2015 Nations Cup Final, with Broderick and Lynch riding the same horses as this year, and Bertram Allen with Molly Malone and Cian O’Connor on Good Luck making up the team. Belgium won the 2015 trophy.

Jack Burns