'I was hungry for the win today'

Ireland's Daniel Coyle triumphs with his horse of a lifetime and Matt Sampson is crowned the show's leading rider

- ELEANOR JONES, LUCY ELDER and JENNIFER DONALD

LONDON GRAND PRIX

1st Daniel Coyle (IRL) on Legacy

2nd Ben Maher (GBR) on Ginger-Blue

3rd Jur Vrieling (NED) on Griffin Van De Heffinck

Winning owners: Ariel Grange and Daniel Coyle

Breeder: Romain Rotty

JUST over 24 hours after the World Cup title was snatched from them at the last minute, Daniel Coyle and Legacy fought back to take the grand prix in epic style.

The Irish rider and the 13-year-old mare he owns with Ariel Grange pulled out all the stops to be crowned champions, with Ben Maher on Ginger-Blue in second and Jur Vrieling on Griffin Van De Heffinck third.

Fourth to go of eight strong jump-off contenders, Daniel threw down the gauntlet from the off, the super little Bon Ami mare showing all her scope and agility to make the awkward turns look easy, but also her ground-covering acceleration as she took a stride out to the central oxer.

They had gone into the lead, then next in was Ben, who had beaten Daniel the day before, and the mare with whom he already had one win under his belt this week. The Plot Blue 12-year-old turned like a 12.2hh, her effortless speed shouted home by the crowd – but ultimately they finished a whisker behind Daniel.