Marco Kutscher (GER) seized a phenomenal victory in the highly-charged Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard as Scott Brash (GBR) held on to his overall ranking lead with only three legs left in the 2015 title race. 18 out of the world’s Top 20 riders were among the elite taking part in the 12th Grand Prix of the series and, despite heavy rain, the footing in the new Tops International Arena remained exceptional and a nail biting jump off saw six riders battle it out for a share of the €300,000 prize purse. It was an afternoon of high drama as Uliano Vezzani’s sweeping course over the vast grass arena tested World and Olympic champions to the full and filtered the field of 50 starters down to a climactic jump off. The event was in front of a sell-out crowd and six riders kept the spectators on the edge of their seats as Simon Delestre and Qlassic Bois Margot raised the bar with their third clear round of the day crossing the finish line in 34.97. Bassem Hassan Mohammed of Qatar had already secured third place in an impressive 35.82 on Eurocommerce California and was watched by a delighted Sheikha Mayassa Al Thani from the Royal Box. It was down to the wire as last to go Marco Kutscher and Van Gogh delivered a super slick clear stopping the clock at 34.86 - a split second flourish that left the crowd gasping. Marco admitted it was his first big win on the 13-year-old bay stallion and said: “I still can’t believe it!” Ranking leader Scott Brash said he was disappointed at his four faults in the jump off on Hello Sanctos but said: “I took a chance and that is the way it goes. He is still a superstar. We are in a good position."
