FEI World Cup Dressage - Mechelem (BEL)

The FEI World Cup Dressage trail heads to Belgium next week as the
Flanders Christmas Horse Show in Mechelen's Nekkerhal hosts the fifth
Western European League qualifier.

Hot favourites must be Spain's Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Beauvalais who
triumphed at Olympia last week and were runner-up in Stockholm. They
currently occupy fourth place in the points' standings on 37.

British rider Carl Hester, who lies eighth on 30 points, has been
delighted with the way Escapado's confidence has grown over his two FEI
World Cup outings this season. After fourth in Maastricht and second at
Olympia, Hester is out to grab more points now he has decided to go all
out for trip to Las Vegas, even though his late entry to Mechelen will
mean leaving home after an early lunch on Christmas Day!

From Holland, Edward Gal and Sven Rothenberger are among those making
the trip with Gribaldi and Barclay II respectively. Rothenberger lies
tenth and will be hoping for a result along the lines of his
third-placed Aarhus run. Gal was sixth in Maastricht but, down the list
in 29th place, will have some running to make up here.

German rider Gina Capellmann-Luetkemeier (who shares tenth place on 24
points with Rothenberger) has entered Amando. The 14-year-old Swedish
gelding originally bought from Gina's sister Nadine has produced two
consistent fifth places this season.

Expect some major changes to the leader board next Wednesday, although
no one can catch Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff. The German rider can sit back
and enjoy Christmas with her family knowing the 65 points she has
accumulated so far has given her sufficient lead to stay in front at
least until the New Year.