Alex Hua Tian puts another horse in Bicton CCI4*-S top three: ‘He really wants to do it’ *H&H Plus*

Find out what Alex Hua Tian said is sometimes an issue when riding the talented Jilsonne Van Bareelhof

Alex Hua Tian piloted Jilsonne Van Bareelhof into second place this morning in the Bicton Horse Trials dressage for the CCI4*-S section, at this event supported by Chedington.

Jilsonne Van Bareelhof’s score of 21.4 puts him just 0.2 of a penalty ahead of Alex’s other ride, Don Geniro, and 0.4 of a penalty behind Laura Collett and London 52, who are still the leaders.

“I’m really pleased – he’s such a lovely animal,” said Alex. “He is talented in all three phases and really, really wants to do it and actually that’s sometimes his issue – he’s fresh all the time and he always has endless energy. He always wants to be at 100% and it’s just trying to settle him enough to be able to do his job.”

The 12-year-old, owned by Adam, Angelina and Lin Guo and Qianru Yi, is known as Chocs “because he’s big, Belgian and brown,” as Alex put it.

He hit the headlines last month with fourth place at Houghton CCIO4*-S.

“That test wasn’t quite as relaxed as at Houghton, but I think Houghton was the first time I’ve properly run him quickly and I think that’s a little bit gone to his head,” said Alex. 

Alex’s second and third place cut a swathe through the otherwise entirely British top eight in this section, which is dominated by the Team GB Olympic nominated horses who performed yesterday morning.

Tom McEwen (Toledo De Kerser) and Ros Canter (Allstar B) share fourth on 23, with Piggy March (Brookfield Inocent) and Kitty King (Vendredi Biats) in equal sixth on 23.1.

Oliver Townend holds eighth on Cooley Master Class, who is on the Olympic reserve nomination list.

Chris Burton is ninth for Australia on Clever Louis, with Alex appearing on the leaderboard again in 10th on PSH Convivial, who is likely to be his second choice horse for the Tokyo Olympics behind Don Geniro.

More from Bicton:

Laura Collett smashes first phase on Olympic hopeful at Bicton *H&H Plus*

‘He’s always a good boy, it’s just whether the jockey gets everything right on the day’: Ros Canter and Allstar B play their hand in Bicton’s CCI4*-S dressage *H&H Plus*

Kitty King puts herself in the hunt for an Olympic ticket after strong start at Bicton *H&H Plus*

It’s nip tuck at the top of the super-hot Olympic longlisted section at Bicton *H&H Plus*

‘The main thing is I do my job’: Pippa Funnell puts in another great first phase display in Bicton’s CCI4*-L *H&H Plus*

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.