The Longines Global Champions Tour has reached its third stop of Shanghai ©GC

Less than a week after Formula 1’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, the city is hosting horsepower of a different nature as the world’s best showjumpers contest the third leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT).

Both two-time LGCT champions, Scott Brash of Britain and  Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander are back at the most Eastern destination on Tour, having earned a victory each at the first two stops in Mexico City and Miami.

Brash, overall winner in 2013 and 2014, leads this year's ranking, with Tops-Alexander, overall winner in 2011 and 2012,  just 13 points behind .

With 40 points for a LGCT Grand Prix win there is everything to play for as the first part of the 2018 season unfolds, with the event taking place in front of  the China Art Palace in the the Shanghai Expo Garden,

Harrie Smolders of The Netherlands is back on the Longines Global Champions Tour in Shanghai to defend his overall title having missed the first two events this season ©Getty Images
Harrie Smolders of The Netherlands is back on the Longines Global Champions Tour in Shanghai to defend his overall title having missed the first two events this season ©Getty Images

However this weekend could be a game-changer as reigning LGCT Champion Harrie Smolders of The Netherlands makes his return to the Championship, with the in-form Dutchman bringing top stallion Don VHP Z as a clear sign of intent.

Smolders won gold at the LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai in 2015, and will be hungry to start his 2018 Championship charge.

The winner of each event during the tour books a place in the new Global Champions Super Grand Prix due to take place in Prague in December.

Also very much in the running for tomorrow’s €610,000 (£534,000/$750,000) Shanghai Grand Prix top prize are last year’s winner Lorenzo de Luca of Italy, top French rider Simon Delstre, Britain’s John Whitaker and multiple German Olympian Ludger Beerbaum.