Carl Hester and Nip Tuck, pictured here at Olympia in 2016.

© Jon Stroud Media/FEI

By Equestrian Life

Carl Hester and Nip Tuck returned to competition over the weekend at Keysoe CDI3* in the UK, winning both the Grand Prix and the Freestyle. It was the first competition for the pair since 2017.

In the Grand Prix, they scored 74.457% to win, ahead of Charlotte Dujardin on Erlentanz on 73.413%. It was impressive CDI debut for this relatively new partnership. Third place went to Anders Dahl and Fidelio van het Bloemenhof on 72.978%.

Carl and Nip Tuck backed up their GP win by scoring 78.725%. Charlotte and Erlentanz were again a close second on 77.7%, and Anders Dahl on Fidelio van het Bloemenhof rounded out third on 74%.

Carl and the 15-year-old KWPN gelding have been a favourite with dressage fans in the UK and around the world. Competing at Big Tour since 2014, their pair are WEG and Olympic medallists and also placed third in last year’s World Cup final.

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