Germany’s Daniel Deusser, the world number seven, set a fast pace in the jump-off in Saturday night's The Martin Collins Enterprises Christmas Tree Stakes to take the class on the 14-year-old grey Cornet (Cornet Obolensky x Caletto I) at Olympia, The London International Horse Show. 

This class bucked the trend, with only four through to the jump-off. First to go, Deusser, who rides for Stephex Stables in Belgium, set a fast pace with a clear in 31.25 seconds. Simon Delestre for France on Conbelleza (Conthargos x Captain Paul) also left all the fences up but was fractionally slower in 32.07 seconds.

Maikel van der Vleuten was third for the Netherlands on Idi Utopia (Quasimodo Z x Udarco) and William Funnell, who has now moved up to second place behind Geir Gulliksen in the Leading Rider of the Show rankings, was fourth on Billy Diamo (Cevin Z x Andiamo).

“I expected there to be more clear rounds but the track had lots of bends off corners and that seemed to be causing trouble,” explained Deusser, who rides Cornet d’Amour in tomorrow’s Turkish Airlines Olympia Grand Prix. “Cornet is one of my top horses but sometimes it’s nice to drop him into a smaller height competition so that it’s easy for him.”