Victor Bettendorf and Encore Speed to an Opening Night Win at the London International Horse Show

Victor Bettendorf and the 11-year-old Selle Francais mare Encore Toi du Linon decisively won the Champagne Taittinger Speed Stakes in front of a packed crowed opening night in London. It was Bettendorf's first time competiting at this show.

"I'm happy to win this class and be competitive from day one," Bettendorf said.

Jos Verlooy of Belgium with Parise van den Dael, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, finished second in the 1.55m class while Britain's Jack Whitaker and the 16-year-old Selle Francais stallion Valmy de la Lande took third.

Top 8 Placings:

1 Victor Bettendorf (Luxembourg) - ENCORE TOI DU LINON - 0/56.28

2 Jos Verlooy (Belgium) - PARISE VAN DEN DAEL - 0/58.34

3 Jack Whitaker (Great Britain) - VALMY DE LA LANDE - 58.55

4 Sabbe Thijssen (Netherlands) - CUPCAKE Z - 0/59.13

5 Álvaro González de Zarate Fernandez (Spain) - CASA DIVA PS - 0/59.27

6 Denis Lynch (Ireland) - BROOKLYN HEIGHTS - 0/59.64

7 Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (Norway) - COLONELLO - 0/62.16

8 Geir Gulliksen (Norway) - VDL GROEP - 0/62.82

Of the 27 entered, Ireland's Denis Lynch and Brooklyn Heights laid down the first clear trip and they were fourth in the order of go. At the conclusion of the speed stakes class, there were 15 clear rounds, putting three clear rounds and any fast four-faulters outside the money.

Some riders truly went for time, while others were perhaps using the stakes class to prep for another big class later in the week.