Banbury's Gareth Hughes won the feature class of the day at the Dressage Deluxe National Championships at Stone-leigh Park, Warwickshire.

Riding Duvie, the horse he co-owns with Ann Newton, Hughes scored an exceptional 75 per cent to win the Bates Saddles Intermediate I Freestyle Championship and stand Supreme Champion.

Hughes said of the nine-year-old gelding: “He’s lovely to train, a straightforward and laidback sort which suits me just fine.

“Horses like this don’t come along that often and I’m just enjoying every minute.”

Of his plans for the future, Hughes added: “It’s his first year at this level and we’ll be heading to Saumur in France to compete in our first international abroad later this month.

“After that we’ll work hard over the winter and see what happens!”

The Oldenburg gelding by Ducello was bought by Hughes and Newton from Germany as a three-year-old and has been trained by the Oxfordshire rider ever since.

The horse is stabled at Aspen Grove dressage, the International Dressage training centre the duo operate together where 39-year-old Hughes is resident trainer.