Charlotte Dujardin rode Carl Hester’s London 2012 Olympic team gold medalist Uthopia to a comfortable victory in the Holiday Inn FEI Grand Prix at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage earlier today (Friday 5 July).
The pair scored 76.404% to collect their second grand prix win. They won their debut together in Saumur in May and finished second to Edward Gal in Rotterdam.
Michael Eilberg and Half Moon Delphi were second with 73%. Michael and the grey Dimaggio mare are among the combinations fighting for the fourth British team slot at the European Championships in Denmark in August.
Another pairing with a chance of beating them to it are Gareth Hughes and Nadonna, not present at Hartpury but due to compete at Hickstead in a few weeks’ time.
Charlotte and Michael were the only riders to score more than 70% in the Hartpury grand prix — Anders Dahl was third with 67.277% on Wie-Atlantico De Ymas.
And British riders swept the board at the para dressage international, with Sophie Christiansen, Lee Pearson, Natasha Baker, Deborah Criddle and Sophie Wells all winning their classes.
- See Horse & Hound magazine, 11 July for full report
