Scott Brash and the extraordinary Hello Jefferson gave the home crowd exactly what they came for on day two of the Longines Global Champions Tour of London, storming to victory in the CSI5* 1.50m Jump-Off class at Royal Hospital Chelsea.

With the grandstands packed and the London crowd finding its voice as the afternoon sport reached its climax, 14 combinations returned for a jump-off that demanded both speed and accuracy. By the time Brash entered the arena, Victor Bettendorf had set a formidable target of 40.30 seconds – but in front of a home crowd, and aboard a horse he knows inside out, Brash found another 0.19 seconds.

Hello Jefferson powered through the finish in 40.11 seconds and the reaction was immediate, with the British crowd erupting as their home hero moved into the lead.

“When you’re on Jefferson you know you’ve always got a chance,” said Brash. “He’s been a remarkable horse for me, and on top of his experience he just loves his job - he wants to win and he wants to go again next week… he’s been an incredible horse for me.”

And for Brash, winning in front of a London crowd made the moment all the more special. “It’s amazing here, I’ve said it before and I'll say it again - there’s nowhere like London. The crowd get behind all us British riders and we are very grateful!”

The win came at the end of a jump-off where the pressure built with every combination and the penultimate fence became the undoing of several serious challengers.

First to return was Brazil's Marlon Modolo Zanotelli with Fusario d'Boissailles. With no clear round to chase, Zanotelli had the freedom to attack and did exactly that, setting off at pace and laying down an early marker. His time of 40.84 seconds showed just how competitive he had been, but the penultimate fence fell to leave him on four faults.

Pieter Devos was next to take his chance, but the wide oxer running alongside the VIP hospitality came down, leaving another opportunity for the riders still to come.

Then Victor Bettendorf changed the complexion of the class.

Aboard Encore Toi du Linon, the Luxembourg rider was around a second down at the intermediate split, but refused to settle. He opened up in the closing stages and went flat out through the final line, producing the first double clear of the jump-off in a rapid 40.30 seconds.

Suddenly, there was a serious time on the board.

Emanuele Gaudiano looked determined to answer immediately. He was ahead at the split and pushing the pace, but two fences fell to end his challenge. Kristen Vanderveen also looked capable of threatening Bettendorf's lead, appearing to have the time in hand before the penultimate fence came down.

Belgium's Gilles Thomas took a different approach with the nine-year-old Riesling van T Roosakker, prioritising the clear and becoming only the second combination to finish fault-free. His 45.24 seconds put him safely onto the leaderboard, albeit five seconds adrift of Bettendorf.

Eduardo Alvarez Aznar came much closer to the leading pace. Almost level at the split, he continued to press all the way home, but gave the second-last fence just a fraction too much and another fast challenge disappeared with four faults.

Julien Epaillard Cottard's bid ended with two fences down before the atmosphere shifted as Brash and Hello Jefferson entered the arena.

The pair wasted no time. Brash kept the 17-year-old gelding moving from the outset, matching Bettendorf's pace and finding the fractions he needed around the shortened track. Jefferson answered every question, and as they accelerated through the final line, the clock stopped at 40.11 seconds.

Just nineteen hundredths separated the two at the top.

There were still six combinations left to challenge, however, and the result was far from secure.

Efe Siyahi retired, while Ioli Mytilineou saw the second-last fence fall. Sophie Hinners' challenge ended at the oxer alongside the VIP hospitality, before Kim Emmen and Quando van het Hellehof opted for a steadier route to guarantee the clear, crossing the line in 52.28 seconds.

That left France's Lara Tryba as the final rider into the arena and the last person capable of denying Brash a home victory.

Tryba kept every fence standing aboard Chageorge, but as she crossed the finish in 43.39 seconds, it was enough for third place rather than the win.

Brash had done it.

The victory belonged to Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson, with Bettendorf's blistering 40.30-second effort securing second place and Tryba completing the podium. Gilles Thomas finished fourth, Kim Emmen fifth and Marlon Modolo Zanotelli's rapid four-fault round proved good enough for sixth.

The Top 6

Scott Brash (GBR) & Hello Jefferson – 0 / 0 / 40.11

Victor Bettendorf (LUX) & Encore Toi du Linon – 0 / 0 / 40.30

Lara Tryba (FRA) & Chageorge – 0 / 0 / 43.39

Gilles Thomas (BEL) & Riesling van T Roosakker – 0 / 0 / 45.24

Kim Emmen (NED) & Quando van het Hellehof – 0 / 0 / 52.28

Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) & Fusario d'Boissailles – 0 / 4 / 40.84

The Longines Global Champions Tour of London reaches it’s pinnacle tomorrow with the much anticipated LGCT Grand Prix with 40 of the worlds’ best vying for 1million EUR prize money. Catch all the action LIVE and FREE on the Longines Global Champions Tour YouTube. 

FULL RESULTS