Dujardin and Werth to do battle

Looking ahead to next year’s postponed Olympics, who will take the dressage medals? H&H dressage editor Polly Bryan asks the experts

- Polly Bryan

David Stickland – founder of Global Dressage Analytics

“AS of March this year, I had Germany, Denmark and Britain down to win team medals in Tokyo. Looking ahead to next year, I’d say that Germany would still be the favourite for gold, although I had actually predicted an almost identical result from Germany and Denmark this year.

“But if Daniel Bachmann Andersen will no longer be riding Zack or Zepter in Tokyo, having now moved on from Blue Hors, that could take a chunk out of Denmark’s chances, though they would still be a strong team with Cathrine Dufour and Carina Cassøe Krüth.

“For Britain, I think Lottie Fry is the future, and she has very good horses for next year.

“Due to the retirement of Laura Graves’ Verdades, the USA, as well as the Netherlands and Sweden, would have probably been fighting it out for fourth place this year, and I’d expect that to be the same next year. Saying that, there are younger horses coming through, so who knows?”

John Kyle – international equestrian commentator

“EARLIER this year, I’d say gold and silver were more or less set – Germany and Britain – followed by a strong chasing pack with a chance of bronze: the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark.

“I think Britain could have won gold – Germany’s Isabell Werth on any horse obviously helps her team enormously, but I do think the other German riders are beatable.