He triumphed on 10-year-old gelding Lorenzo with a score of 82.060, edging Sweden’s seven-time Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven into the runners-up spot.

Performing with Paridon Magi, the Swedes scored 79.55, with Silfven’s compatriot Rose Mathisen clinching third spot on board Zuidenwind, tallying 76.705.

“Lorenzo is coming back after his holidays,” said 28-year-old Lopez, who finished fifth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August, with the horse which only competed in his first international Grand Prix last February.

“At the moment he may not be as sharp as he was earlier in the season but he is coming along nicely.

"He coped very well with the atmosphere and he enjoyed the applause of the crowd."

The second leg of the Western European League qualifying series will take place next weekend, in Lyon, France.

Qualification points for the overall final in Omaha in the United States will again be up for grabs.