Show JumpingShane Breen gave Ireland's show jumpers the best possible morale booster for this afternoon's crunch Nations Cup at Hickstead with victory in yesterday's Eventing Grand Prix.
The Co Tipperary rider tackled the combined show jumping and cross-country track with typical verve, crossing the finishing line in 211.01 seconds on Mullaghdrin Gold Rain to claim victory by .46 of a second from British event rider Cressida Clague-Reading.
Mark Kyle, who came into the arena as defending champion having won the title last year, stopped the clock on 218.80 seconds with Drunken Disorderly to slot into fourth behind Australia's former winner Lucinda Fredericks.
Breen had been in the money earlier in the day when finishing fourth in the Speed Classic qualifier on Royal Concorde, but Cian O'Connor was further up the order, claiming second place with the mare Zanoubia behind Frenchman Roger-Yves Bost.
Breen will be centre stage again this afternoon when he not only leads off the Irish challenge in the pivotal Samsung Super league round at the Sussex venue but will be first into the arena with World Cruise as Ireland have been drawn first to go of the eight teams.
Team manager Robert Splaine has put Marion Hughes in the number two slot on Heritage Transmission, followed by Cian O'Connor with Echo Beach.
Cameron Hanley, who was 10th in the speed class on Charming Fox, goes in the number-four berth with Hippica Kerman.
It is vital that Team Ireland pick up a decent points tally in this afternoon's clash. Currently last in the Samsung Super league standings, they are in severe danger of relegation.
The Irish points tally of just nine leaves them seriously vulnerable. The Dutch are also in the danger zone, in seventh place just .625 of a point clear of the Irish.
After today's round in Hickstead, the last points-gaining chances come at Dublin and the September final in Barcelona.
Hickstead, Britain, The Ford Ranger Eventing Grand Prix - 1, Ireland's Mullaghdrin Gold Rain (Shane Breen), 211.01 seconds; 2, Britain's Huszar II (Cressida Clague-Reading), 211.47; 3, Australia's Headley Britannia (Lucinda Fredericks), 214.44; 4, Ireland's Drunken Disorderly (Mark Kyle), 218.80.
