Hutchinson was the only clear in the third round of the contest at 1.90m to secure victory over his remaining three rivals.

Due to an organisational error, the course wasn’t opened for inspection prior to the class. Hutchinson had the difficult task of being first to go over the fence, which wasn’t the traditional wall but instead a four-bar vertical with tropical plants underneath. It was set at an initial height of 1.60m.

“The first round is always the hardest round,” Hutchinson explained. “You have to be so focused because it’s so easy to knock one of the smaller fences. The high fence, not being a wall, I was thinking maybe I should ride it a bit different. Acorad was a bit cagey coming into it the first time but we cleared it. He’s such a great horse – you do the first round and then he knows exactly what you want.”

Three of the seven starters faulted in the first round and the remaining four all went clear again when the fence was raised to 1.80m for the second round. However, only Hutchinson was clear when it was increased to 1.90m.

“He’s such a scopey horse,” says Hutchinson. “I never really think about the height of the wall. I’m thinking about relaxing and getting the horse to relax into his rhythm.

“I like a big canter down to it, and try and get him as straight as possible – that all the rhythm is compressed and by being straight you get the power.

“I saw my stride and then just held and squeezed on take-off. Once his legs are under him, give an extra squeeze for the hind legs. He’s got an amazing ability to just throw himself up in the air; he has unbelievable power.”

Hutchinson moved to Dubai and joined Marion Hughes and Miguel Bravo at Team Z7 two years ago. He had just completed a degree in equine business management when he started to ride out for Hughes and soon after she offered him the job in Dubai.

“At first I thought, Dubai? I don’t know. But I soon came to my senses,” he recalls. “Coming here was the best decision I ever made. When I first came I had a bit of a culture shock because it is so very different to Ireland, but I was made to feel really welcome.

“The people here are really friendly and helpful. I am really happy here now. I have really good horses and I’m learning an awful lot. Getting help from Marion Hughes and Miguel Bravo is invaluable. Being with Team Z7 is great.”

Hutchinson spends the summers in Ireland with Team Z7 at Hughes’ yard, where he commutes to from home each day to ride out.

He is now qualified for the Land Rover Puissance at the Dublin Horse Show and he is hoping to repeat his 2012 success there.

“It’s serious jumping in Dublin. You don’t even need to look back; you know you’ve cleared the wall from the crowd and it gives you a great buzz. For me it’s the best show in the world.”

PARTNERED

Elsewhere, Hughes partnered her own HHS Pinky to finish ninth in a two-phase, going clear in 25.60 seconds. Russia’s Vladimir Tuganov won on Wisconsin 111 in 23.41.

In the six and seven-year-old championship, Brian Cassidy secured two top-five placings with promising six-year-olds. Riding CSF Vendi Cruz, Cassidy was double clear in 40.14 to finish fourth, while he was also clear on Unadora in 41.44 for fifth place. Libya’s Naji Rachid (Cicero II) won in 33.50.

In young horse two-phase class, Hutchinson finished eighth on Cit Cat when clear in 24.41, less than four seconds off the winner.