Equestrianism: Parcival suffers new injury setback

Two of Britain's top show jumping horses, Parcival and Amber du Montois, have suffered setbacks following their participation in last week's Dublin Horse Show.

Parcival, whose lacklustre performance in Sunday's Grand Prix led to a blood test being taken on his return, was found to be suffering from a virus. Amber missed the Grand Prix because she had knocked her off foreleg earlier in the show.

Both horses are among the five on the Great Britain squad for the World Equestrian Games, which begin at Jerez de la Frontera in Spain on 10 September, so these setbacks have emerged at a crucial time.

Tim Stockdale is nevertheless hopeful that Parcival, who was due to be put on a drip last night, will be ready in time.

"From Saturday onwards he kept sleeping – he was flat out, with his eyes closed, when I went into his stable at 9.30 on Sunday morning," Stockdale said of the talented grey gelding.

The unusual lethargy, combined with the lack of enthusiasm that led to him lowering four fences in the Grand Prix, prompted the blood testing on Monday evening.

Stockdale has not ruled out the possibility that Parcival will be right in time for the Nations Cup show at Gijon in Spain, where the squad will have their final pre-Games outing at the end of this month.

William Funnell, however, thinks that Amber du Montois must be considered a doubtful starter for Gijon, although he should know more when the mare is scanned again next Tuesday.

Both Stockdale and Funnell will be riding other horses when they compete at The Horse Show, which begins its three-day run at Great Leighs in Essex this morning.

This will be the last old-style show at the attractive venue before it undergoes an ambitious £30m development to become a racecourse and leisure centre.