The winner Willem Greve: “Karim was really fast, and I had to take all the risk in the jump-off. My horse Carambole was very co-operative, and it all worked out. Sometimes when it goes it goes, and we were really lucky in the jump-off. I must say my horse has a great mentality, Carambole is a very clever horse – I really came into the combination on a diagonal and he really knows what the game is and he loves to do it. I am really proud to win the Sterrehof's Opium Grand Prix, it was a horse that won a lot for the Dutch team and to win means a lot to me.”

Greve on his goals for this year: “My goal this year is the European Championships in Aachen. I have two horses for the big sport, but I have to make a good plan for them. I think we go next month to Abu Dhabi and then I hope for Den Bosch before I make a plan for the summer season.”

Runner-up Karim El Zoghby: “I am very happy with my mare. I think we lost it in the riding, she lands very far after the fences and for her this is also all new. She has only been at this level for a year now, and she was doing the 1.30 classes at the beginning of last year. So for her to come so far, means I am very happy with her.”

Third placed Daniel Deusser: “My plan was to turn really fast after the first fence, and I showed her the direction to the left but somehow she stumbled a little in the landing. I was lucky that we stayed on all four legs, and it was maybe not the best start for the jump-off. But it is no excuse, because these two next to me were in a different world today.”