From Wednesday at 8am, Longines Global Champions Tour of London will begin welcoming some of the best horses in the world to the spectacular Horse Guards Parade Ground venue by St James's Park. World No1 Scott Brash (GBR) will have his 2012 Olympic Gold medal-winning horse Hello Sanctos as his star ride. Brash’s 2012 Olympic team mate, World No3 Ben Maher, will have his partner of last year Cella and together the pair will try and retain the London title which they won so convincingly in 2013. Championship leader Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE) will be without Casall ASK with whom he has won three LGCT medals this year, but his rising star Unita ASK could well reproduce her great performance in Valkenswaard to give the former European Champion another points haul in London. Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), who dominated the leaderboard for much of the season so far has packed the big guns for the 11th round - Old Chap Tame and Ego van Orti - either of whom could produce a win for the 2011/2012 LGCT Champion this weekend. The new World No2, Ludger Beerbaum (GER), will have his top team of Chaman and Zinedine coming to London. The German star told GCT TV recently that his retirement is not far away and Rio would be his final major Championship, so he will be looking to be at his best and winning as much as possible before he takes off his spurs for that last time. Sitting 5th on the Championship table, Beerbaum is within a shot of the leaders, so the four-time Olympic Gold medallist will be chasing a key win in London on Saturday. Other big names who could well step up to the top of the podium in the British capital are Marcus Ehning (GER) with Plot Blue, who have been climbing the Longines World Ranking and are hotly-tipped as the possible Champions this year; Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Powerplay who led the Championship in Madrid after a string of great results is also one to watch; USA’s Mclain Ward and Rothchild, winners of the first round in Antwerp are a stellar combination who are always tough to beat. All of the Top Ten riders in the world will be competing for one of the biggest prize funds in the show jumping calendar in the Longines Global Champions Tour of London Grand Prix presented by Qatar, which will be shown live on BBC, Eurosport, beIN Sports and GCT TV.
From Wednesday at 8am, Longines Global Champions Tour of London will begin welcoming some of the best horses in the world to the spectacular Horse Guards Parade Ground venue by St James's Park. World No1 Scott Brash (GBR) will have his 2012 Olympic Gold medal-winning horse Hello Sanctos as his star ride. Brash’s 2012 Olympic team mate, World No3 Ben Maher, will have his partner of last year Cella and together the pair will try and retain the London title which they won so convincingly in 2013. Championship leader Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE) will be without Casall ASK with whom he has won three LGCT medals this year, but his rising star Unita ASK could well reproduce her great performance in Valkenswaard to give the former European Champion another points haul in London. Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), who dominated the leaderboard for much of the season so far has packed the big guns for the 11th round - Old Chap Tame and Ego van Orti - either of whom could produce a win for the 2011/2012 LGCT Champion this weekend. The new World No2, Ludger Beerbaum (GER), will have his top team of Chaman and Zinedine coming to London. The German star told GCT TV recently that his retirement is not far away and Rio would be his final major Championship, so he will be looking to be at his best and winning as much as possible before he takes off his spurs for that last time. Sitting 5th on the Championship table, Beerbaum is within a shot of the leaders, so the four-time Olympic Gold medallist will be chasing a key win in London on Saturday. Other big names who could well step up to the top of the podium in the British capital are Marcus Ehning (GER) with Plot Blue, who have been climbing the Longines World Ranking and are hotly-tipped as the possible Champions this year; Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Powerplay who led the Championship in Madrid after a string of great results is also one to watch; USA’s Mclain Ward and Rothchild, winners of the first round in Antwerp are a stellar combination who are always tough to beat. All of the Top Ten riders in the world will be competing for one of the biggest prize funds in the show jumping calendar in the Longines Global Champions Tour of London Grand Prix presented by Qatar, which will be shown live on BBC, Eurosport, beIN Sports and GCT TV.