Carl Hester and Nip Tuck Return in Spectacular Fashion
Dressage sensation Carl Hester last night took a win as he returned to competition on board Nip Tuck in the Equine Construction CDI Dressage Grand Prix, at Keysoe.
The win came following a short break in competition since the European Championships in Gothenburg 2017. It was announced in February that the pair would make their return to competition at Keysoe CDI3*.
He last did the Europeans in 2017, and it does feel like it’s been ages! He was fourth there, and Jane and I thought he’d probably done the best he could ever do, so last year he had some time off – he’d done four major championships in a row”
commented Carl following their win.
The infamously spooky gelding looked to be in his element entering the arena. Delivering a test that delighted the audience, Nip Tuck appeared to have been well-served by his extended holiday.
He just feels so well. It was like riding a ten-year-old – he doesn’t feel anything like his age. He’s just so excited to be out and so happy. So, I’d said to Jane, ‘Look, I need a horse to fill in for some shows over here’, because Delicato needs to step up this year and do more shows abroad. But we’ve not got a lot of top-level British riders, and it’s so important that we represent at the home internationals and try to help out these guys who bother to put on internationals. He’s a brilliant horse to do that with. I thought, I’ll bring him to Keysoe and then Windsor – that’s the plan, just keep him happy. We both enjoy it, and the horse loves being out and about, and Jane will ride him in between.”
The pair delivered a score of 74.457%, some 4% away from their personal best, yet full of enjoyment and harmony between horse and rider.
Triple Olympic gold medallist and current FEI world ranked number 7 Charlotte Dujardin was narrowly beaten into second place by her trainer and mentor. On catch ride Erlentanz, following an injury to owner and rider Sonner Murray-Brown, Charlotte delivered a 73.413% test. A number of minor mistakes kept them off the top spot.
Keysoe owner and show director Simon Bates added,
it is always a pleasure to welcome Carl to Keysoe and we’re very grateful to have Nip Tuck making his competitive return here. It was a bit of a treat for the local crowd to watch such a world-class field.”
Dujardin also took the Spillers Prix St George earlier in the afternoon with Mount St John VIP on 76.941%.
