Edited press release from Royal Windsor Horse Show

On a day that the British Olympic showjumping team was announced for the Tokyo Olympics, the close of the second day in the Castle Arena at the Royal Windsor Horse Show was a real showcase with all four of the confirmed squad taking part; Holly Smith, Harry Charles, Scott Brash and Ben Maher.

A total of 26 combinations took part in the CSI5* 1.55m Pearl Speed Stakes, with 13 managing to make it into the jump-off. The jump-off course looked tight and Harry Charles went first, going clear and setting a speedy time of 36.74 seconds with Stardust (Chacco-Blue x Con Air 7). He was followed by Daniel Bluman, who, whilst fast, had an unlucky four faults. Then to Holly Smith who managed to cut the tightest of corners and set a time of just 35.52 seconds, taking the lead and holding off the competition to take the top honours with the 11-year-old gelding Fruselli (Zambesi x Karandasj). From thereon, the next 10 combinations – which included Great Britain’s Ben Maher on his legendary gelding Explosion W (Chacco-Blue x Baloubet du Rouet) – couldn't catch Holly's impeccable time, leaving the Brit to take the win, making it a day to remember!

Second place went to USA's Lillie Keenan with Fasther (Vigo D'Arsouilles Stx x Farmer), 0.28 seconds behind Smith's winning time, while Harry Charles took third followed by Ireland's Michael Duffy on Jeff Ten Halven (Toulon x Crown Z) in fourth and Great Britain's Joe Stockdale on Equine America Don Diego de Plata (Ramiro de Belle Vue x Latano) in fifth. 

The first of the two CSI5* classes, the 1.45m Manama Speed Stakes was dominated in the early stages by Israel’s Daniel Bluman riding Gemma W (Luidam x Unaniem). For the majority of the two phase competition the round was proving difficult to beat. With just six combinations remaining, Britain’s Guy Williams on Crispina Z (Corofino 2 x V. Bon Ami) put in an inspired performance to take the lead by 1.53 seconds. However, with just a few to go, Williams was then beaten by sensational Windsor debutante, 24-year-old Lillie Keenan, who took the spoils with a time of 23.73 seconds on her 10-year-old stallion Agana van het Gerendal Z (Aganix du Seigneur Z x Topas) and demoted Williams to second place. Home favourite, John Whitaker delighted the expectant crowd with a fantastic display of horsemanship to take third aboard Unick du Francport (Zandor x Helios de La Cour II).