EQUESTRIAN: A new profile Irish team has already made inroads into the Italian prizefund at the Samsung Super League fixture in Rome, with Cameron Hanley sharing the honours in last night's six-bar with Britain's Michael Whitaker, writes Grania Willis.

The Mayo man's win on Charming Fox followed Peter Charles' second place finish in the earlier two-phase, when Pall Mall's time of 28.07 seconds was just under a quarter of a second adrift of French winner Pierre Jarry and Ionico. Hanley slotted SIEC Concept into fourth in that class, mirroring Charles' earlier fourth in the opening speed with Rockstar.

Ryan Crumley and the stallion Baltimore are the Irish pathfinders in this afternoon's vital Super League clash, with Ireland drawn first to jump of the eight nations. Marion Hughes goes second on Transmission followed by Hanley and Hipica Kerman, with Charles and Pantera in the number four berth.

Team manager Robert Splaine last night expressed cautious optimism about the squad's chances, even though Ireland are currently languishing in last place.

"I'd be cautiously optimistic", the Cork man said last night. "More or less everybody is trying out a new team, as we are, and I think we've a chance of finishing mid-division."