TEMPTING fate is not advised, but if Ireland ever had a chance to win a team Olympic medal, it feels like the stars, and the superstars, are aligning for Paris.

High performance manager Michael Blake had a tough decision on his hands this time round with the number of top combinations at his disposal, but in the same breath, the team for Paris almost picked itself, as the top combinations were outstanding.

Shane Sweetnam and the Irish-bred James Kann Cruz feel like the Irish team banker; they are clear round machines and you would hope they will keep jumping clears, while they might not be the fastest. Daniel Coyle has changed his entire training practices to get Legacy ready to compete at a Games and Cian O’Connor is the master at preparing for the big day. He has campaigned Maurice relatively lightly to peak in the first week of August.

While Sweden have dominated the team gold medals since winning in Tokyo three years ago, followed by the World Championships in 2022 and Europeans last year, I would fear other countries more. The Swiss form hasn’t be great in the lead-up but, as mentioned elsewhere on this page, they are taking the championship specialist duo of Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat and the ultra-experienced Pius Schwizer.

USA are another team who have not enjoyed a rich vein of form in team competitions in the lead-up to Paris, however, when you see their team on paper of Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward, it’s hard to rule them out of contention.

The three British riders - Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Harry Charles - rode together in Tokyo and they also made up the team, with the reserve rider Joe Stockdale, who won bronze in Herning in 2022. The home nation of France will be gunning for their medal on home soil, while the Germans can never be discounted. It’s going to be a thriller!