Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson delight with LGCT London win

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Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson delivered a home victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour of London, edging Victor Bettendorf by just 0.19 seconds to win the CSI5 1.50m Jump-Off class at Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Fourteen combinations returned for the jump-off on day two of the Longines Global Champions Tour of London, where a packed home crowd watched Brash and the 17-year-old Hello Jefferson stop the clock in 40.11 seconds.

Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf had laid down the target aboard Encore Toi du Linon, producing the first double clear of the jump-off in 40.30 seconds.

It looked a difficult time to beat, but Brash and Hello Jefferson matched the pace before finding the fractions they needed around the shortened course to take over the lead by just 0.19 seconds.

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“When you’re on Jefferson you know you’ve always got a chance,” said Brash. “He’s been a remarkable horse for me, and on top of his experience he just loves his job. He wants to win and he wants to go again next week… he’s been an incredible horse for me.”

With six combinations still to follow, Brash’s victory was not yet guaranteed.

France’s Lara Tryba came closest among the remaining challengers, keeping all the fences standing with Chageorge to finish in 43.39 seconds and secure third place.

Belgium’s Gilles Thomas and the nine-year-old Riesling van T Roosakker took fourth with a double clear in 45.24 seconds, while Kim Emmen and Quando van het Hellehof finished fifth after another fault-free performance.

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Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Fusario d’Boissailles completed the top six. The Brazilian combination had been quick, finishing in 40.84 seconds, but four faults in the jump-off kept them outside the top five.

For Brash, victory with one of the most experienced horses in the field was made even more memorable by securing it in front of a British crowd.

“It’s amazing here, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there’s nowhere like London,” he said. “The crowd get behind all us British riders and we are very grateful!”