Laura Renwick wins Olympia Puissance: ‘That wall is huge!’

Laura Renwick has won the Cayenne Puissance at Olympia Horse Show, clearing a massive 2.20m (7ft.3in) to take the title.

‘Scope and heart’

Laura was riding her and her husband’s eight-year-old Top Dollar VI. Despite his young years, the chestnut stallion was the only horse to clear the imposing wall in the fifth round.

“I’ve never won the Puissance outright, so to do it on an eight-year-old horse with not much experience, but loads of scope and heart feels amazing,” said Laura. “The atmosphere was electric.”

A total of four riders made it into the final round, but Holly Smith (Quality Old Joker), Karline de Brabander (Fantomas de Muze) and Padraic Judge (Citi Business) all faulted, leaving them joint second.

‘Bit lucky’

“That wall is huge” said Laura. “Having seen the other horses hit it, having been jumping really well, I knew it was a big ask. I was a little bit lucky – I didn’t have the best stride and the horse really had to use his body to get over it.”

Earlier in the day, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (Fidux) headed a one-two for Spain in the Santa Stakes, holding off a late challenge from Manuel Fernandez Saro (Cannavaro).

‘Real fighter’

“I was early to go, and Manuel was right at the end,” said Eduardo. “He knew what he had to do but wasn’t quite quick enough. Fidux is a real fighter and very quick across the ground.”

This class was followed by a Swedish one-two in the Musto Inside Edge Stakes, when 2017 European Champion Peder Fredricson (H&M Zoulbet) beat Malin Baryard-Johnsson (H&M Second Chance) by 0.77sec to take the top prize.

You can watch highlights of Olympia 2017: Puissance when it premieres on 1 January at 8pm on Sky 253 or online via H&C Play or Amazon Video. The programme will then be available on Catch Up.