Holly Smith and Denver made a good start to Britain’s campaign in the Olympic showjumping team qualifier at the Tokyo Games, lowering just one rail to finish on four faults.
In their first competitive appearance in the ring this week, as Harry Charles and Romeo 88 replaced them in the individual competition, the combination looked strong and positive as they tackled the tough track, around which only one combination had jumped clear as they went in.
“I was absolutely delighted with the horse who is, believe it or not relatively low in experience at this level, and obviously with us having not completed the individual competition, it’s quite something to go in there,” Holly said.
“I feel like neither of us have jumped a course for months! It’s not that long, but that’s what it feels like.
“I’m just really really pleased with him, he answered every question. I’m delighted for the owners and hopefully it’s a good enough performance to get us through to tomorrow.”
Ian Dowie’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding had rattled the water tray, which stayed up, but he went on to catch the 1.65m oxer at fence 11.
“The last line was always going to be difficult; I think my mistake just before the last line maybe helped me a little bit, it gave us both a bit of a wake-up call,” Holly said.
“I chose to add a stride to the double of planks at the end; everywhere else I went on the forward stride, so I always knew it was going to be hard work for me to get that extra stride and I had to work super, super hard to do that. In previous competitions. I’ve always chosen the open distances to doubles like that and always made mistakes. So I thought, I’ve been practising at home, obviously, but I thought it was between that and the other and I thought, if I don’t try something different I won’t forgive myself.”
Their round put Britain equal on faults with the US, but as Holly’s round was faster than that of Laura Kraut and Baloutinue, this would place Britain in front of America in terms of qualifying for tomorrow’s (7 August) Olympic team showjumping final.
You might also be interested in:
A bluffer’s guide to showjumping at the Tokyo Olympics
‘Everyone agreed to give the opportunity to Harry’: Team GB manager explains Olympic showjumping team substitution
‘He’ll always give you his best shot’: watch Holly Smith and her Derby debutant Fruselli making a splash with victory in La Baule
“It was an ideal class for him; he has loads of endurance, he’s obviously a good speed horse and he’s
‘I don’t know what’s more pressure – winning Olympic gold or getting married in two weeks’: Ben Maher to tie the knot following Tokyo Games
‘He grew wings for me’: how Ben Maher and Explosion W won Tokyo Olympic gold
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.