The British more than justified their position as favourites for this afternoon's Aga Khan Cup when scoring a virtual whitewash in yesterday's jumping, with only Leslie Burr-Howard from the US managing to break the British stranglehold.
With five of the 12 going through to the decider in the featured Kerrygold International, the British were always going to be tough to beat and the incentive of a £4,000 winner's cheque served to heighten the tension.
Double Olympic gold medallist Ulrich Kirchhoff set the pace for Germany, stopping the clock on 37.20, but that was bettered by Jean-Marc Nicolas from France who slashed off nearly three seconds. But neither was good enough for a top three finish.
First in to lay down the British gauntlet was Robert Smith, named as No 3 on Ronnie Massarella's squad for this afternoon's Nations Cup. With the veteran Tees Hanauer at his brilliant best, Smith sliced another halfsecond off the target for a temporary hold on the big money. Fellow Briton Di Lampard with the Irish export Abbervail Dream moved into the runner-up slot.
Geoff Billington, best of the British when sixth in the Atlanta Olympics last summer, lost his chance when It's Otto expressed his objection to a bad stride into the fifth fence. Ireland's sole contender, Trevor Coyle, also finished down the line when the stallion Cruising trailed off two rails.
Nick Skelton, winner of this class 12 months ago with Dollar Girl, then put in his bid to retain the title with another mare. But although Showtime clocked the fastest time, she lowered the final fence as John Whitaker hacked into the arena on the 18-year-old Grannusch. Belying his years, the veteran Grannusch hurtled round the track like a youngster to break the beam in the winning time of 33.16 for a British one-two-three.
It looked as though it would be a similar result in the following Kerrygold Accumulator, with the British holding the top three places with just two left to go. But Leslie Burr-Howard pushed everyone down a slot as she notched up maximum points in 44.49 for the win.
Last man in, Ireland's Steven Smith, made a game effort with Topaz Diamond to slot into fourth between the two Whitaker brothers, with Di Lampard second on Flaminka, the mare that Paul Darragh rode into the runner-up spot in this class last year.
Not surprisingly, the British are quoted as 6/4 favourites to retain the Aga Khan trophy this afternoon. The in-form Americans are joint-second favourites with the home side at 2/1. The Dutch are quoted as outsiders at 10/1.
Chef d'equipe Tommy Wade has picked Trevor Coyle to open the campaign with Cruising, followed by Capt John Ledingham (Kilbaha) and Paul Darragh (Scandal), with Eddie Macken in his traditional captain's berth on last year's grand prix winner FAN Schalkhaar at number four.
The Irish are drawn second-last of the seven nations, with Britain in first. Tommy Wade is in no doubt that his team will have its work cut out. "The best three teams in the world are here in America, Britain and Holland, and they'll be very hard to beat," he said yesterday.