Britain is once again dominating the leaderboard at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, with David McPherson taking first and second place in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m.

Simple tactics

McPherson’s first ride in the jump-off was on Silver Exchange II, and they went clear with a time of 43.29 seconds, putting them into the lead. When he came back in the ring with Leonitas, he still meant business and nearly knocked himself off the top spot with another clear in a time of 45.81 seconds.

"My tactics were real simple,” says David. “I just wanted to jump clean rounds with these two. They're not up to speed to go and do heroics, at this moment in time anyway. Thank god all of my dressage is paying off somewhere down the line."

Delighted

David has ridden Silver Exchange II for just over a year, although the 11-year-old gelding has been laid off for a good deal of that time with an injury. “I've come here and basically just jumped last weekend and this weekend, so I'm delighted with him,” says David. “All of my horses came here after a long holiday."

Other Brits in the prize money included Ben Maher who came fourth with Quiet Easy 4; ninth place went to Tina Fletcher riding Hello Sailor and Nick Skelton came 10th on Unique XVIII.