Bandit steals the Tankard for Charles

Olympic gold medallist Harry Charles and Bandit finished the fastest of 56 starters in today’s World Ranking class, the Clipmyhorse.TV Tankard.

The 11-year-old gelding is back to his best after a year on the sidelines, and was taking his third victory on the bounce. “He's a bit of a Swiss Army knife because he doesn't spook, he's extremely brave and he's super fast,” said Harry, who is about to celebrate his first wedding anniversary after his marriage to Eve Jobs during last year’s Agria Royal International Horse Show.

Harry is juggling competing at Hickstead this week - where he has Casquo in the King’s Cup - with preparing new ride LT Holst Freda at home for the World Championships.

“It’s good to win not only on the opening day but at a home show as well,” he added. “I grew up coming here, I did my first ever shows here on lead rein over cross poles in the back ring. I watched my dad win the King George here, which is probably the first class I was old enough to remember him winning. I won my first ever Nations Cup here — so it's a great place of history, not just for the sport, but also for our family.”

It’s not every day someone beats Speed Derby champion Mark Edwards and Dillinger NE by nearly 3sec — let alone with a horse they’re jumping for the first time in two years. But that’s exactly what Matt Sampson did in the 1.45m Royal International Vase, marking an exciting return with the 13-year-old mare One Whisper.

“I have literally had her a week, this is my first class back with her,” said Matt, who has got the mare back after selling her to US rider Izzy Coxe two years ago. “She’s exactly the same as she’s always been. She’s always been really careful and really fast and tries super hard.”

The first of the show’s international classes produced a memorable victory for the UAE’s Abdullah Mohd Al Marri, who won The Royal International Salver.

“That is something I will remember forever!” said Abdullah, who posted a blistering round on the 11-year-old Diabla PS. “She has a big heart and an old soul and she loves these kind of arenas and natural obstacles. She was honestly having fun,” said Abdullah.

Abdullah is based with the Al Shira’aa team at the Billy Stud and will be contesting this week’s Agria Nations Cup and Al Shira’aa King George V Gold Cup with BBS McGregor. The Agria Royal International Horse Show forms part of the UAE squad’s preparation for the World Championships.

“I hope that’s started the week off on a good note and relieves a bit of the pressure,” he said. “The first time I came here I felt tiny in the ring, and the history definitely got to my head, but coming here every year after that has helped. I watched John Whitaker jumping here 20 years ago and it’s been a dream for me — and to still be competing with John, and to be at this venue, is something beyond our imagination.”

For full results click here.

Tickets for the Agria Royal International Horse Show (22-26 July) are available online or at the gate, and all the action from the show will be livestreamed via the host streaming partner ClipMyHorse.TV.