Whitaker bids to stake claim

Michael Whitaker will take both Pion and Handel II to the Aachen Nations Cup later this month as he bids to stake a claim for the Great Britain world games team in September.

British team manager Derek Ricketts said Whitaker must prove a point with Handel II and added: "Michael has to prove that Handel can cope with an outdoor jumping arena.

"He has not jumped in an outside team event for two years, and we will have to see whether the horse is manageable and jumps water, or whether he is still a bit wild."