Olympia 2015: the dressage contenders

The London International Horse Show kicks off tonight (15 December) with the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix, acting as the qualifier for tomorrow’s Freestyle. So who are the main contenders for the British leg of the World Cup series?

Reigning champion

The current title holder Charlotte Dujardin is back to reclaim her crown – but she won’t be riding her Olympic, World and European Champion Valegro. While the crowds maybe disappointed not to see the superstar gelding strut his stuff they will still be delighted to welcome back to centre stage his stable mate Uthopia, Carl Hester’s London 2012 Olympia gold medallist. Uthopia has been busy with stud duties so it will be his first international competition since Royal Windsor in May 2014, where he and Charlotte won the Grand Prix (76.9%) and the Freestyle (83.6%). They’ll be first into the arena tonight, but can they produce a winning performance to continue Charlotte’s run of Olympia successes?

Nip Tuck takes on Flirt

Crowd favourite Carl Hester will be bringing Nip Tuck back to Olympia for a second year in the hope of taking the title from his protege Charlotte Dujardin. He’ll be aiming to improve on last year’s fourth place score of 74.680%. Currently ranked 12thin the world rankings, Carl sits right behind fellow competitor Hans Peter Minderhoud, who is currently ranked 11th with Glock’s Flirt.Minderhoudwill be one to watch following his winning form in the fourth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage League qualifier at Stockholm in Sweden.

British form

Carl and Charlotte are not the only Brits with a chance of a placing in tonight’s Grand Prix. The Bechtolsheimers’ stable jockeyLara Griffith is back, not with last year’s ride Andretti H but instead partnering Rubin Al Asad. Lara and the 13-year-old gelding are currently ranked 85thin the world, and they recently danced their way to second place in the National Championships Grand Prix Freestyle. Finishing third in that competition was another of tonight’s British contenders, Hayley Watson-Greaves and her own WG Rubins Nite. Hayley got the call up afterFiona Bigwood and Atterupgaards Orthilia – who impressed as part of the silver medal team at the Europeans this summer – were withdrawn from the competition. Fiona will no doubt be following the action tonight, however, as her partner Anders Dahl will be competing on board Wie Atlantico.

Henriette Andersen completes the British line up on Warlocks Charm. The pair have not competed at an international competition since they came joint fourth in the Freestyle in Saumur in September, so we’re looking forward to seeing the 12-year-old Jazz gelding in action.

From abroad

As always Olympia attracts riders from around the globe, and the combination who has the task of following Dujardin into that famous arena is Portugese rider Daniel Pinto and Santurion de Masse, who are currently ranked 124thin the world. Let’s hope Daniel’s horse doesn’t mind crowd noise!

Popular Swedish rider Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén has tavelled to London to compete on her new ride Paridon Magi. The pair has only done one international competition together in Stockholm last month, so they should be an exciting combination to watch.

Representing Ireland this year is Judy Reynoldswho rides another Jazz progoney, Vancouver K. Judy has been on record form this season and could well be a dark horse in tonight’s competition (excuse the pun).

Full start times and rider list

19:30 – Charlotte Dujardin – Uthopia (GBR)

19:39 – Daniel Pinto – Santurion de Massa (POR)

19:48 – Henriette Andersen – Warlocks Charm (GBR)

19:57 – Jorinde Verwimp – Tiamo (BEL)

20:06- Hayley Watson-Greaves – WG Rubins Nite (GBR)

20:15 – Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén -Paridon Magi (SWE)

20:24 – Fanny Verliefden – Annarico (BEL)

20:33 – Inna Logutenkova – Don Gregorius (UKR)

20:57 – Goncalo Carvalho – Batuta (POR)

21:06 – Anders Dahl – Wie-Atlantico de Ymas (DEN)

21:15 – Lara Griffith – Rubin Al Asad (GBR)

21:24 – Judy Reynolds – Vancouver K (IRL)

21:33 – Diederik van Silfhout – Bonzanjo (NED)

21:42 – Carl Hester – Nip Tuck (GBR)

21:51 -Hans Peter Minderhoud – Glock’s Flirt (NED)

22:00 – Agnete Kirk Thinggaard – Jojo Az (DEN)

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