Holly Smith and Chris Megahey share Olympia Puissance prize

Tonight’s Cayenne Puissance at Olympia went the five-round distance, with Britain’s Holly Smith and Ireland’s Chris Megahey clearing 2.15m to share the top prize.

Holly (nee Gillott) and her horse Quality Old Joker have already netted the HOYS Puissance title this season, and the Leicestershire-based rider was delighted to add the Olympia title to her CV. It was her first time competing at the London show.

“All my friends are here to watch. I tried to treat it as a normal show, but it’s just got such an amazing atmosphere,” she said. “The first three rounds didn’t actually go that well, but then I managed to see a forward stride in the fourth and he jumped brilliantly.”

Irish 18-year-old Chris Megahey then equalled Holly’s fifth round clear on the former eventer, Seapatrick Cruise Cavalier.

“I loved it – it didn’t faze me at all,” he said. “It’s just brilliant being here, being around top riders like Marcus Ehning and Scott Brash.”

Earlier in the day, Germany’s Daniel Deusser won the Santa Stakes with nine-year-old stallion Hidalgo VG ahead of Britain’s Ben Maher (Don Vito) to second.

Lorenzo De Luca steered Halifax van het Kluizebos round for a speedy clear to win the Christmas Pudding Stakes. It was a winning debut for the young Italian rider, who has enjoyed plenty of success this season and is making his Olympia debut.