Slow burn pays off for Harrie Smolders in Ivy Stakes

The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders produced the only double clear to win tonight’s H&M Ivy Stakes at Olympia.

Five made it through to the jump-off, including British hopes Michael Whitaker and William Funnell. However, both riders faulted, as did France’s Kevin Staut and Belgium’s Jos Verlooy.

It paved the way for Harrie to come in and produce a steady clear on Corrada, finishing some 10sec slower than second placed Kevin Staut and Unna de Kerglenn.

In our interview, Harrie explains why this actually played to his mare’s strengths, and why he was focusing on a particular fence in the first round….