Impressing the ground jury to gain second spot after dressage (40.4) the big grey progressed to pull out a copybook double clear and by-passed leaders David Doel and Billy Pastime as a result.

“A little bit surprised, but delighted as it’s a nice class to win,” commented Glynn. “I hadn’t really planned to go for the time, but when I heard that David (Doel) had clocked up a few time faults, I found myself in a competitive position. That said, if he had felt green I would have been happy to cruise round but he felt great so we decided to go for it.”

Glynn took over the ride on Gee Que earlier this year, following an injury to his regular owner and rider Danielle Quinlivan. The home-bred son of Guidam is a younger half-brother to Aoife Clark’s Le Lion d’Angers’ runner up Fernhill Adventure, so it was fitting that he should also receive the H.S.I award for the highest placed seven-year-old in the class. In addition, he also collected the coveted Susie Dobbs trophy, which was presented by her friend and event president Van de Vater.

Despite adding a costly 3.6 time penalties to his winning dressage score, David Doel was pragmatic in defeat. “Billy Pastime is fairly inexperienced at the level,” he said. “He is lovely horse and out did himself in the dressage, so I’m over the moon.”

THIRD PLACE

At the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of breeding, Esib Power piloted the lovely thoroughbred Soladoun into third place. A winner on the flat in France, Soladoun has relished this change of career and now heads to Osberton for the seven-year-old championship at the end of the year. ”He’s a star,” said Power. “Over his last five runs he has really got his act together and is now fast and straight everywhere.”

This popular class had an entry of 37 runners, two thirds of which completed the cross-country without incident. Among the more notable victims was JP Sheffield, who lost his overnight third placing when Gulfstream gathered a costly 20 penalties at the penultimate angled brushes.