Bookmakers Paddy Power are quoting Team Ireland at 14/1 for this afternoon's Aga Khan Cup, even though the home side go into today's Nations Cup as defending champions. The US, with two individual wins already this week, are the 6/4 favourites, with Germany and Belgium at 7/1.
Germany, winners in Hickstead last week and current leaders of the Samsung Super League, kick off the action, with Ireland in as number two. But despite the long odds, chef d'équipe Éamon Rice is determined his team will finish well up the field. "We have to be ahead of the Dutch and the Belgians and I'd like to think we'll be in the top four," he said after last night's draw.
Ireland is currently languishing at the bottom of the Samsung Super League with just 11.5 points, but a single point covers the bottom three teams and Ireland could vault above Holland and Belgium with a good result this afternoon.
Cian O'Connor leads off for Ireland with Waterford Crystal, followed by Clement McMahon (Gelvin Clover), Capt Shane Carey (Killossery) and Billy Twomey (Anastasia), but Harry Marshall has been left on the subs' bench.
"I picked the team on the basis of performances here this week," Rice said.
Harry Marshall was due to start his European championship ride Ado Annie in yesterday's Speed Derby, but withdrew before the start of the class.
The mare has appeared only in Wednesday's schooling session.