RIYADH: As a two-time 2023 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix winner, both times riding World Championship winning mount King Edward, Henrik von Eckermann is unsurprisingly in contention to take top spot in this year’s championship race in Riyadh.Neither of the other two championship contenders, Harrie Smolders and Maikel Van der Vlueten, matches von Eckermann’s tally of LGCT Grand Prix wins this year. Statistically, von Eckermann can steal the show if he podiums in the LGCT Grand Prix of Riyadh, due to take place between Oct. 28-30. Time will tell if the LGCT championship trophy can become the ultimate addition to von Eckermann’s collection. In King Edward’s six LGCT Grand Prix appearances this year, he has accrued an average penalty rate of 4.67 faults, though the two double clears produced have resulted in two wins this year, taking out both the LGCT Grand Prix of Stockholm in May and Rome in September. The Cardento 933 x Gentlemen mare Iliana cannot be overlooked as a point-scoring contributor, with her two LGCT GP starts producing two clear rounds and two top-eight finishes. Glamour Girl adds her 100 percent strike rate, with one LGCT GP start producing a clear round and a top eight finish.