Brits at their best

British combinations excel in Aachen's atmospheric arena while the Olympic champion remains the rider to beat

- MARTHA TERRY

OLYMPIC champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB were the target to catch and while they remain the ones to beat after a clean sweep of wins, the chasing pack are closing in. It's not that the graceful 16-year-old mare is in decline, but her younger opposition are on a dramatic upward trajectory.

Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, 10, pushed her close in the grand prix and special, before smashing out a personal best of 88.42% in "Pete's" third-ever freestyle.

"Bless Pete, this was the first time he's done a piaffe pirouette, half turn, full pirouette," said Charlotte, who rode to Valegro's gold-medal floorplan. "It's very special riding to Valegro's music, but I'm excited to get Pete his own."

Charlotte finished third in the freestyle, 0.3% behind Denmark's Nanna Skodborg Merrald on Blue Hors Zepter, while Britain's Lottie Fry and Imhotep's sire, Everdale, earned 87.52% for fourth.