Scott Brash saves the best until last in the Grand Prix of Gijon with Hello Folie
Tuesday 01 September 2026
Scott Brash’s plans panned out perfectly as he swept to victory in the top-billed 4* Grand Prix of Gijon in Spain with the exuberant Hello Folie.
“It’s amazing to win here with this crowd,” said Scott, as he lifted the magnificent trophy in front of 13,000 spectators.
Scott tactically prepared the eager mare for the feature Grand Prix with an easy run in Saturday’s Volvo 4* 1.45m Table C speed (seconds added for a knockdown) to jump a steady clear for 20th place. The plan paid handsomely with victory in his ultimate aim – the 4* Grand Prix.
“I just gave her a loop around the ring; she felt great and ready for the Grand Prix,” said Scott.
Forty-three riders faced course-designer Santiago Varela’s technically challenging 13-fence, 16-effort 1.60m course which demanded precision, scope and control with delicate verticals and wide, square oxers. Eleven mastered every element to return for the jump-off, including three British representatives.
They were no match for Scott and the eager 11-year-old mare Folie (Luidam x Diamant De Semilly) as they delivered a swift, clean round to score a 3.47 second win. The points also pushed him to the top of the Leading Rider Award by six points. Brazil’s Yuri Mansur slotted QH Alfons Santo Antonio into second spot with Millie Allen rounding out the podium in third on Quickly D VH Ijzerenlinenhof. Four faults dropped Jack Whitaker and Jack JL into sixth.
Alongside Scott, World Championship bronze medal teammate Harry Charles also travelled to Gijon from Aachen and secured victory in Friday’s feature 4* 1.55m. Harry teamed up with recent acquisition Ballypatrick Tiberius in the 51-strong class, the pair joining the 12-horse decider. Harry hit top form on the Caligula x Messenger 10-year-old to win by 0.83 seconds.
Harry picked up second in an early 51-entry 4* 1.50m with the 11-year-old Bandit (Obos Quality 004 x Cruisings Micky Finn) 0.56 seconds in arrears of the winner, Switzerland’s Edouard Schmitz on Gamin Van’t Naastveldhof. Scott slipped the Kannan 10-year-old Kohiba into third.
Millie Allen also claimed podium places with Quick Diamant HR, the 10-year-old Diamant De Semilly x Quidam De Revel mare claiming second in the 44-strong 4* 1.45m speed by 0.81 seconds, and third in the 4* 1.45m speed 1.29 seconds behind the pace.
Image: Instagram/gijonpdm
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