IRISH confidence received a lift in Rotterdam tonight (Thursday) ahead of Friday's Nations' Cup clash when team member Capt. David O'Brien took a decisive victory in the two-phase competition at the Dutch five-star show.

The 32 year-old Westmeath native, riding the Minister for Defence's grey Cruising mare 'Mo Chroi', stopped the clock in the final phase almost two seconds ahead of Dutch challenger Gert-Jan Bruggink and his chestnut mare 'Andrea'.

O'Brien will be second to jump with the Irish-bred 'Kiltoom' in Friday afternoon's fourth leg of the Meydan Nations' Cup Superleague.

Team Ireland Equestrian's Show Jumping Manager Robert Splaine has chosen Denis Lynch with 'Abbervail van het Dingeshof' as the team pathfinder, and O'Brien will be followed into the arena by Jessica Kurten and the mare 'Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois'. Anchorman on Friday will be Tipperary's Shane Breen and 'Carmena Z'.

Ireland have been drawn sixth to jump of the world's top ten teams competing at Rotterdam, and the competition begins at 1.30 pm Irish time, with live scoring available on this website.

Capt. David O'Brien