Capt Gerry Flynn makes his debut appearance on Ireland's Aga Khan team this afternoon and chef d'equipe Tommy Wade has piled all the pressure on the Army rider's shoulders by thrusting him into the hot seat as pathfinder for the Irish quartet.
The Longford-born rider was drafted on to the team as a last-minute replacement for the injured Peter Charles.
A member of Ireland's winning team in the Athens Nations Cup last year, Flynn was determined to make the most of the unexpected opportunity. "I'd like to go well to give Tommy Wade something to think about," he said earlier this week and did exactly that by riding Diamond Explosion to finish second in yesterday's Kerrygold International and producing clear rounds in both main classes.
As a result, Flynn was put in ahead of Edward Doyle, who thought his double clear in Wednesday's Welcome Stakes was enough to clinch a place. Doyle decided to conserve Windgates King Koal for the Aga Khan and feels aggrieved he wasn't told by Tommy Wade that he needed to jump again yesterday.
But Wade said yesterday the Aga Khan foursome would have no bearing on his choice of team for the European championships in Hickstead later this month. Peter Charles is hoping to be well back in the frame by then and is optimistic he will be fit enough to ride at the big Pulsar Grand Prix meeting in Valkenswaard, Holland next week.
Until Charles returns to the fold, however, Wade is determined to give some newcomers a chance.