SCOTT BRASH added the Charles Stanley British Masters crown to his burgeoning title portfolio with a thrilling victory at Chester Racecourse.

The Scottish showjumping star kept his cool, going last in round two to edge out his British Nations Cup colleague Guy Williams.

Kent rider Williams, winner of the Hickstead DFS Derby and £40,000 aboard Softrack Skip Two Ramiro last Sunday, looked to have done enough on Torinto van de Middelstede.

Williams raced around course designer Bob Ellis’ testing track in 44.04 seconds, having been one of only six first-round clears among a 39-strong field.

But Peebles-based Brash kept his cool on Intertoy Z, securing a £10,000 winner’s purse in front of watching Great Britain team manager Rob Hoekstra.

The 24-year-old clocked 43.85 seconds, sending him into his next Nations Cup appearance – in Aachen, Germany later this month – with soaring confidence.

“There were a lot of tall vertical fences out there on that course – it was a strong track,” said Brash, who won Saturday’s Grand Prix qualifier and £6,000 on Bon Ami.

“It’s good to beat Guy. He’s always very fast, so competitive and very hard to beat.

“He’s a great jockey.

“But I was in a good position going last – I had that advantage.

“Intertoy is developing into a top horse.

“He’s just getting better and better.

“Aachen is next for me now in the Nations Cup, when I will try to do my best to help Britain stay up there.”

Britain currently lie second behind France halfway through the overall Nations Cup series, and strong performances in Falsterbo, Sweden next week, then Aachen, would set up a thrilling British leg at Hickstead on July 30.

Belgian challenger Jan Motmans finished third, with in-form Michael Whitaker (GIG Amai) fourth and Belgium’s Guido Hornesch (Bo De Pomme) fifth.