The second derby qualification in Hamburg went to Wednesday’s winners Dermott Lennon (IRL) and the 12-year-old Gelvins Touch (Touchdown x Diamond Lad). “My horses are in good form, and it is great here in Hamburg so the horses feel well,” Lennon said after his win. “Sometimes it just works! Gelvins Touch was great to ride, and I just let him go in his rhythm.”

About Sunday’s derby, the Irish rider said: “I know that my horse isn’t spooky, so I don’t have to worry about that. And I’m quite sure he will make the wall easy. And with a bit of luck he will also make it clear over the plank after. I’m just trying to enjoy when the horse jumps as good as Gelvins Touch just did.”

In today’s qualifier, Lennon was more than five seconds faster than runner-up Luca Maria Moneta (ITA) with Neptune Brecourt (Cavalor Cumano x Kayack). Third place went to the second placed in the first qualification; Holly Smith (GBR) with Quality Old Joker (O.B.O.S. Quality 004 x Slyguff Joker). Fourth place went to Billy Twomey (IRL) with Diaghilev (Vangelis S x Handstreich), and fifth to Matthew Sampson (GBR) with Gloria van Zuuthoeve (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Glorieux).