Cousins Joe and Jack Whitaker delivered a thrilling finale to day three at Horse of the Year Show as the Dallamires Stables Cup took centre-stage.
They were separated by just 15 hundredths of a second following a gripping jump-off, with Joe taking the top prize on Vagalenco GF and Jack pushing him to the limit aboard D&H Valmy De Le Lande.
Max Routledge and Me The Rebel R.T completed the podium places after seven combinations from 26 starters lined up for a race against the clock.
It completed a familiarly successful day at HOYS for the Whitaker family, with William having won the opening Grandstand Welcome Stakes.
Assessing his win, Joe said: “My horse has a very big stride, and he had a really good start to the round. He was very quick, but I knew that Jack was coming behind me and a lot of the other riders were fast as well.
“I thought I had just had a stride too many to the double coming home, but thankfully Jack didn’t get me today!”
Joe will now aim Vagalenco GF at Sunday’s Leading Showjumper grand prix, and said: “We were going to see how tonight went, and we will definitely go on to the grand prix now.
“He will have a day off on Saturday, and then we will start him in the grand prix. He felt really easy, comfortable and confident.
“We have been coming to this show as a family for years, and it is always great to ride here. It is what we do the sport for, and getting a win makes it absolutely fantastic.”