Innholdsfortegnelse for 9-Dec-2021 i Horse & Hound

IT has been a tough year, but in this issue we celebrate all that was good about 2021. Watching the Prime Minister’s press conference in response to the latest Covid variant, I wondered how quickly restrictions would escalate and whether the Horse & Hound Awards in partnership with NAF would be able to take place last Wednesday. But hurrah, nearly 300 gathered at Cheltenham Racecourse to celebrate the heroes of our sport, all hell bent on enjoying the moment. You make the most of what you can nowadays. It was a fantastic night, filled with mightily worthy winners. Ruby Hughes, 13, took the young rider category, having achieved a ludicrous amount for one so young and looking set to follow in her father Gareth’s footprints. She was congratulated by two…

CLINTA US showjumper McLain Ward’s 2018 world team gold medal-winner has retired to be a broodmare aged 14 owing to injury. The mare, co-owned by McLain, Susan Heller and Sagamore Farms, won multiple grands prix. SIRE COLLONGES The former Paul Nicholls-trained chaser won the 2021 Retraining of Racehorses Racing to Hunting Challenge with Tom Jonason. The 15-year-old Belvoir regular impressed in the new-format final, a day with the Ledbury. BENGAD RUMEX The Nevins’ Welsh section A stallion has died aged 29. He was a successful sire and ridden pony. In 2008, he won the Welsh section A and B ridden final at the RIHS and was second at HOYS, ridden by Jessica Nevin.…

A RIDER who got into the saddle for the first time aged 93, on a 31-year-old “one in a million” mare, loved every minute and enjoyed a large glass of wine afterwards. Melita Richardson decided she wanted to ride, so Summer McBeth, of Eighton Lodge Residential Care Home, Gateshead, called Three Lane Ends Farm in Bishop Auckland, and Melita rode 15hh Sally. “She loved it,” yard owner Christine Barratt Atkin told H&H. “Afterwards, she said, ‘Now they’re taking me to the pub for a glass of wine,’ and I thought, ‘You deserve it!’” Summer told H&H: “When we walked into the pub, Melita said, ‘By the way, I’ve just been horse riding. I’d like a large glass of wine.’ She hasn’t stopped talking about it and she wants to go…

1) Name the only racehorse ever to complete the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup double. 2) Which horse was said to be Winston Churchill’s favourite racehorse? 3) Name the jockey who rode Frankel to victory in all 14 of his races? 4) In Islamic tradition, what is “haizum”? 5) What is the connection between Tim Price’s recent Pau five-star winner Falco and the London 2012 Olympic Games? Answers from 2 December 1) Same dam, Cornish Queen 2) Against The Grain, Epsom, April 1983 3) An intelligent equine race in Gulliver’s Travels 4) A mule and the first clone to be born in the equine family, 4 May 2003 5) A polo pony.…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald THIS last month or so, we’ve been competing on the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain. There are two- and three-star shows with classes for everybody – from ranking classes and young horse classes to bronze tours at 1.10m. Last weekend, when we were contesting the three-star grand prix that had nine British riders entered, my son Olli asked me to guess how many Brits in total were competing that week. And I couldn’t believe it when he told me there were 71. Many riders and connections I’ve spoken to here say they’re coming back in the spring; it’s become a way of life. And with the expenses attached to travelling horses after Brexit, it makes sense to spread the cost over a few weeks. The sheer…

Point Break, 7yo bay stallion by Action-Breaker x Balou Du Rouet Owned by Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter Ben started riding “Bodhi” (pictured) a year ago and they have competed in young horse classes with an almost perfect clear-round rate. Ben makes no secret of the fact that he is a dazzling prospect. Could he be Explosion’s successor? Concona, 11yo chestnut mare by Conthargos x Con Air 7 Owned by Jane Clark and Ben A “really special mare” with solid team credentials, Concona contributed to Ben winning the Global Champions Tour in 2019 and jumped on Nations Cup teams. She has been sidelined with an injury this season, but was back in action in Spain in November and Ben says “we’ll be seeing a lot more of her”. Faltic HB,…

“JEREMY is chilled and doesn’t get excited about much other than prize-givings. He’s sweet to look after and settled in his stable. When you first go in to see him in the morning, he likes a good cuddle. If he knows he has hard work coming up, he’ll stand in the corner with his head down and sleep. “I’ve been to Houghton, Blair and Boekelo with him this year. At Boekelo, the hand-grazing space was also a working area and other horses would career off when a horse cantered past, but he’d just watch, as if to say, ‘That looks fun, but I’m happy eating grass.’ “I love to watch Nicola working him or having a lesson with Chris Bartle. I do get nervous and I couldn’t watch the cross-country…

WHEN it comes to organising and singing the praises of Britain’s top riders, Dickie Waygood is the man for the job. But when it comes to talking about his own success as British Equestrian team leader, he admits he gets nervous. “As we were listening [to the award speech], I realised it was probably going to be me and then I went quiet – I don’t normally get nervous, but I was when I was up on that stage,” admitted Dickie. It’s been a year to remember for Dickie, with British teams achieving phenomenal success across the disciplines at the Olympic Games and European Championships. “Going to the Tokyo Games, we made a lot of big decisions, but I decided I must stick with what I believe and luckily it…

BEN MAHER said he is “incredibly lucky” to ride Explosion W, the 2021 Bloomfields Horse of the Year. Ben could not be at Cheltenham to collect the trophy, but in a video message he said the 12-year-old, with whom he took individual Olympic gold in Tokyo, had had an “incredible year”. “I’m lucky to ride a horse like Explosion; none of this would have been possible without him,” he said. “A big thank you to everyone who voted for him; he’s definitely a very special horse who deserves this award.” Ben described the horse as “the best I’ll ever ride”. Pamela Wright and Charlotte Rossetter’s gelding stunned both his rivals and the thousands viewing back home with his astonishing turnback to an oxer, which sealed his victory. Collecting the award…

YEARS of hard work came to fruition as Chris Bailey picked up the Farrier of the Year Award. “I’m proud to be part of this; it’s nice to be recognised as it’s a tough job,” he said. “When I was training, I didn’t think I was going to make it. My ATF [approved training farrier] said I couldn’t bend, and I told my dad I couldn’t do the job, but I’ve made it.” Chris was working at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary when he first had the ambition to be a farrier. “I saw the farrier driving an Audi TT and I thought, ‘I want that job!’” he said. “I had to save up working with the rescue for seven years even to train as a farrier. But I had to achieve…

Chagall, 18 CHAGALL won 10 national dressage titles including at inter I in 2012. He and FEI five-star judge Isobel Wessels competed at grand prix in Europe around Isobel’s judging commitments, as well as on the British circuit. On Chagall’s final competitive outing, in December 2020, the pair scored 72% at grand prix. “Chagall was the kindest, most sensitive horse – he was so gentle and he always picked up on the mood,” said Isobel. “He has touched so many people – he just seemed to throw a spell over anyone he came into contact with.” Gentleman, 20 SIR LEE PEARSON claimed triple gold with Lorna Harvey’s Gentleman at three consecutive championships: the 2008 Paralympics, the 2009 Europeans and the 2010 World Games. In London 2012, they added individual silver,…

★★★ catherine.austen@futurenet.com @cfausten123 STRADDLING the border between County Durham and Northumberland, this diverse hunting country slips unnoticed beneath the radar. The Zetland to the south and the Tynedale to the north have always taken the limelight as their more fashionable neighbours. The Braes country was hunted by a number of other hunts from the mid-18th century. The Prudhoe and Derwent were one of these, as were The Castleside, whose huntsman Joseph Kirk is generally supposed to be the original upon whom RS Surtees’ fictional huntsman James Pigg was based. This is the mother country of that famous hunting author Robert Smith Surtees, who lived at Hamsterley Hall, only a few miles from Castleside. His fictional village of Handley Cross is supposed to be based upon Shotley Bridge, the village where…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @jen_donald Arena UK Winter Classic, Lincs HOLLY SMITH was in her usual devastating form to claim a double victory, including the winter grand prix with Dean Vernon’s impressive Billy Sarafina. “She’s very careful and exceptionally talented,” said Holly about the Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Billy Congo eightyear-old mare. Course-designer Mark McGowan’s track tested scope and rideability, with seven returning for the jump-off. Holly maximised on her final draw to win with almost four seconds in hand over India Bussey’s standard-setting clear on Fahra ES. Holly got the ride on Billy Sarafina 14 months ago. “She’s benefited from going to the five-star shows with my top horses and was second in the Horse of the Year Show grade C final. She’s gaining experience against the clock, but I was…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 Onley Grounds EC, Warks “THERE’S a fine line between the right reaction and overreaction,” explained Dan Greenwood of his “super-sensitive” plus-70% prix st georges (PSG) winner Krack DE, a 10-year-old gelding he rides for Catherine Witt and Antonia Brown. “I’m trying to refine the aids to see what works with him. He has gone from being quite uptight about life to doing everything calmly.” Dan described his medium 61 gold section winner SJL Baks Zacco as “an overachiever, always giving 110%”. “We’ve taken our time with him as he keeps growing,” he said, explaining that Sara Lucas’s seven-year-old has not competed since spring. “Given that he hasn’t been anywhere, we’re really pleased.” And while he rode Juliet Leighton’s Lord Leatherdale gelding Chevalier O hors concours, a 71% grand…

gemma.redrup@futurenet.com @gemmaredrup Cornwall Hunt Club, Wadebridge WILL BIDDICK was in redoubtable form to score a treble and secure a joint lead in the early standings of the men’s championship. “Tom [Malone’s] horses were in cracking form and it’s nice to have one for Alan Hill, so it’s been a really good day.” Will’s first of two winners for Tom came aboard the five-year-old Escapeandevade, powering across the line 10 lengths ahead of his closest rival in division two of the maiden. Tom said that the horse looked to “take his eye off the ball” on his early starts in Ireland, but as he has matured, he has “really switched on”. “Once he matures again, he’s going to be a lovely staying handicap chaser because he’s tough and he jumps great,”…

I HAVE a confession to make. Ever since my lesson the other day, I have a burning urge to jump things – ditches, buckets, small children, anything really. It’s a feeling that has taken me back to childhood, happily counting the fences through the Knoyle Vale on a day’s hunting. Serious foxhunters take a dim view of this kind of thing; “appalling people careening over fences, with no interest in the hounds. Everything that is wrong with the sport” and so on. I’m not asking for days of derring-do like the brave souls of the Wynnstay, but it would be nice to come across a fence and jump it, every now and again. On Saturday we met here, criss-crossing the fields in front of the house for the first hour…

Share your news story Call 01252 555021 Email eleanor.jones@futurenet.com @ jones_eleanor_ THE 13 winners of the Horse & Hound Awards, including an extra title on top of the planned categories, were named in a ceremony at Cheltenham racecourse on 1 December. H&H Editor-in-Chief Sarah Jenkins said: “Huge congratulations to all our extremely worthy winners, and all shortlisted in such competitive award categories. “It is fantastic to see greatness in equestrianism recognised in the way these awards manage to achieve each year, and wonderful that H&H readers and followers feel passionately enough about these individuals’ contribution to the horse world that they vote in such incredible numbers for their heroes. We felt very fortunate to be able to hold our ceremony in what are still very challenging times, and it was…

Showjumper Emily Routledge and her husband Max welcomed their first child, a girl, Isla May, on 24 November. Emily said she had “no words to describe what becoming a mummy feels like”. Para rider and swimmer Suz Hext was released from hospital on 4 December after two and a half weeks, during which she had surgery to have a cochlear implant fitted in her right ear. Champion trainer Paul Nicholls saddled his 12th Tingle Creek winner, Greaneteen ridden by Bryony Frost. Paul’s previous winners include Kauto Star and Master Minded. The Duchess of Cornwall has extended her presidency of equine charity Brooke a role she has held since 2006. She has also become patron of the British Sporting Art Trust. Para rider Sir Lee Pearson was crowned para athlete of…

▲ EXPLETIVES The lovely and legendary Tom McEwen, onstage at the H&H Awards to collect his gong, was asked by compere John Kyle about his seeming lack of any competition nerves and ability to sleep even on cross-country day. “That’s true,” Tom agreed, adding: “But I’m sh*****g” myself now!” ▲ MORE EXPLETIVES Also on stage at the awards was Amateur Rider of the Year Lauren Innes, who was talking about the difficulties of riding round work “in the dark and p*****g rain”. “It’s all Tom’s fault,” joked compere John Kyle. “He’s an inspiration to us all.” ▲RAISING THE TONE The amazing Lifetime Achievement Award-winner, Allister Hood, brought things back on to a rather cleaner footing. “...when it’s horrible weather and you think, ‘Why the heck am I doing this...’” was…

I AM sure Valerie Ross (letters, 25 November) is not the only equestrian rejoicing at the removal of riding from modern pentathlon by the UIPM, the sport’s world governing body. But I wonder if the interest in the reputation of equestrian sport she and others felt at the scenes in Tokyo was also felt at the horse injuries and deaths in endurance riding, the suspension of jockeys in racing for whip abuse, the disqualifications due to blood on the horse in dressage, horse obesity in showing or other forms of possible abuse? As one reads in H&H, all forms of equestrian sport are under threat as never before. Equestrians of all persuasions need to stand together and broadcast the myriad benefits of our sports, rather than celebrating what, I fear,…

alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com @alexrob_journo_ LAST week, Horse & Hound acknowledged the achievements of the great and good from the equestrian world in an awards ceremony at Cheltenham Racecourse (1 December). Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) similarly celebrated all that is brilliant about showing and produced several wonderful feel-good and first-time stories. Robert Walker’s supreme horse victory with Jill Day’s View Point, under racing royalty Henrietta Knight and Richard Johnson, was the jewel in the crown for the Walker clan, the nearest showing has to the Whitaker dynasty. Sister act Sarah Walker and Vicky Hesford made history when dominating the cob championship with Red Butler and Red Rock III respectively. The latter horse also stood reserve in the coloured section after scoring 97/100 – the highest ride and conformation total of the…

I’ve always had a passion for horses after being brought up around them. One grandfather was in the Royal Horse Artillery and was on the gun carriages in World War I, and even after the war he still drove ponies. One of my earliest memories was sitting in a pony trap with him. The other grandfather worked for Manchester Water Board as a forester and used teams of horses to pull out the trees and logs to keep the reservoir water clear. From age five we had something to ride and did the usual Pony Club activities. My father wasn’t keen on the idea of having horses just to ride – so the ponies we had needed to be rideable but also do a job. The land that my family…

BRELSTON COURT Marstow, Herefords For you: a Grade II-listed, six-bedroom farmhouse with plenty of original features, such as exposed beams, pine shutters and slate roofs. It is set in the pretty village of Marstow, with far-reaching countryside views. Fishing rights on the Garron Brook are included in the sale. For the horses: as well as a post-and-railed manège, there are 13 stables – nine in an American barn and four in a block – plus tack and rug rooms. The grounds total approximately 26 acres, including multiple paddocks. OIEO £1m Roscoe Rogers & Knight, 01600 772929, roscoerogersandknight.co.uk NEW HALL Dudleston, Shrops For you: a Grade II-listed, six-bedroom farmhouse dating back to the 15th century. The property enjoys far southerly views over North Shropshire and Wales from its elevated position. There…

THE week before the H&H Awards nominations were announced, Redwings Phoenix passed away due to complications from the burns he suffered during an apparent arson attack in August. The piebald foal received round-the-clock care from the vet team at Redwings’ Hospital. He was able to enjoy a little turnout and would even trot around his paddock. However, as the vets realised the burns would never recover sufficiently for him to lead a normal life, he had to undergo a skin-graft operation and sadly did not recover. “He was incredibly brave right up until the end, and blew us away with his fighting spirit,” said Redwings’ Stephanie Callen. Redwings’ chief executive Lynn Cutress and head of veterinary services Nicky Jarvis collected his award and paid an emotional tribute to their staff…

BUDDING dressage rider Ruby Hughes capped an “incredible” year by being crowned the Tommy Hilfiger Equestrian Young Rider of the Year. Ruby, 13, is the daughter of international grand prix dressage riders Gareth and Rebecca Hughes: “It’s great to get free lessons from them!” This year, her first time competing in international dressage, she was the highest-placed British rider at the pony European Championships riding Hilkens Showgirl, and has already made her debut in junior ranks with the 12-year-old Goodtimes gelding Extra Time. Having grown up among dressage’s elite, and even bagging the odd lesson on Valegro with “Uncle Carl” Hester, Ruby isn’t too fazed when it comes to competing against adults. “It doesn’t make me too nervous – all I can do is try my best,” she said. “It…

ADRIAN BIGG was recognised for his work in protecting rights of way with the Volunteer of the Year Award. Adrian, 75, has spent 18 years volunteering as a BHS access and bridleways officer. He is also chairman of the West Penwith Bridleways Association. Adrian was unable to attend the ceremony, but told H&H: “It is a great honour, especially considering the other volunteers who are equally committed and doing so much good work. “I find the volunteer work rewarding in itself,” he added. “It’s something that you have to enjoy doing even though, and especially in access work, success is not guaranteed. However, even small successes and helping others in their work provides that motivation for doing more.” The BHS’s director of access, Mark Weston, who was on hand to…

“I lay with him in the sunshine with hounds working in the bracken below. Best way to go” ROBERT JONES, joint-master of the Radnor and West Hereford, saved the life of Mr Trix twice. “He came to the kennels to be put down when he was five,” he explains. “He’d been kicked on the knee and was a bit of a mess.” Robert took him home to his dairy farm and turned him out for the summer. “Time is the greatest healer.” And so it proved. “Within 12 months, he was healed. I thought I’d better hunt him and he never looked back.” Thus began 14 seasons of field mastering, during which Mr Trix never refused and Robert never fell off him. How many can cite such a record? The…

TAKING a £2,000 first horse to the highest dressage levels is the stuff of dreams, but it’s a reality in the making for William Roberts – who won on his first attempt at inter I with Afortinius. “He was a superstar,” said William, whose 68.95% silver section score headed the class. “Henry [Boswell, who trains William] helped me the day before and gave me a game plan for the warm-up. It all paid off in the test.” William bought the showjumping-bred Argentinus son seven years ago, but quickly realised that the horse didn’t want to jump. “We tried for a while, but he found his calling in dressage,” he said of Tino, now 13. “We’ve learnt together and every day he has tried to do everything I’ve asked of him.…

jennifer.donald@futurenet.com @ jen_donald Sandown Racecourse, Surrey IT was probably written in the stars that after a trying week – which included a day being cross-examined in the British Horseracing Authority hearing against Robbie Dunne, who she has accused of bullying and harassing her – Bryony Frost would win the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday. And she duly did on Greaneteen, one of the rising stars of the two-mile division. The seven-year-old, giving Paul Nicholls a 12th winner of the race, beat stable companion Hitman 5½ lengths while the first and second favourites, Chacun Pour Soi and Nube Negra, finished a disappointing last and second-last respectively. Not surprisingly, the post-race media focus was all about the jockey rather than her mount and, regardless of the outcome of the…

COVID MEASURES AT LONDON SHOW VISITORS to the London International Horse Show (16–20 December) are asked to play their part in helping reduce Covid spread. All visitors will have to show proof of having had two doses of a Covid vaccination at least 14 days beforehand, presence of Covid antibodies or a negative lateral flow test within 48 hours. Visitors are asked not to attend if they are experiencing Covid symptoms, isolating, or have been in close contact with anyone who has Covid. “We are making every effort to provide a safe environment for all our visitors,” organisers said. “We can all play our part in keeping each other safe.” YOUR CHANCE TO NOMINATE CHARITY HARRY HALL is again asking for suggestions as to which charities should benefit from its…

polly.bryan@futurenet.com @pollyrose21 MARIBEL ALONSO’S election to the chair of the FEI dressage committee with an overwhelming majority of votes cast by national federations is great news for our sport. A five-star judge, technical delegate and veteran of many championships; trainer, owner, sponsor, rider (although not competitively) and businesswoman, Maribel is a great communicator in all of the four languages she speaks. I was glad to have the chance to hear her vision. With welfare at the forefront of her manifesto, one of her key aims is to communicate proactively “the benevolence of dressage”. “Let’s hope something good might come of a terrible accident which could have happened to any of us” She said: “I want to serve the sport regardless of difference of opinions and viewpoints. Challenges and opportunities are…

FROM Explosion W’s window at the back of his stable, he can watch the aeroplanes taking off at Stansted Airport. It’s a neat coincidence that the horse who jumps like a jet plane and spends so much of his time flying round the world scooping prizes should overlook the busy transport hub. “It wasn’t intentional, but it is convenient being so close to Stansted,” says Ben of Elsenham Stud, his home for the past 15 years. “I’m away so much – at least two flights a week – but I enjoy what I do.” When H&H visits, Ben has just touched down from Prague, where Explosion finished third in the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Super Grand Prix. It’s something of the measure of the new Olympic champion that third…

RIDER NICOLA WILSON “I WENT to see Coolparks Sarco – or ‘Jeremy’ – at Andrew Nicholson’s yard just after Christmas with James and Jo Lambert and we all fell in love with him immediately. Andrew bought him from Vicky Brake, so he’s had a super grounding in life from both riders. I’m lucky and humbled to have such a lovely horse and take advantage of all their hard work. “I knew I wouldn’t be as strong as Andrew, but we found our new partnership quickly. Jeremy was responsive, a willing and kind horse who wants to please. “We used the first events to get to know each other, with the aim of going to Houghton CCI3*-L if things developed nicely. He was phenomenal there, showing a lot of ability, trainability…

READERS voted Lauren Innes as their Pikeur Amateur Rider of the Year. The accountant and four-star event rider won the CCI3*-S at Bicton at the end of 2020, then this year finished 11th at Bicton CCI4*-L and third at Blair at the same level. Her best results have all been achieved on her 11-year-old gelding Global Fision M (Flipper), whom she has produced throughout his eventing career. “He’s the horse of a lifetime – we’re qualified for Badminton and hopefully we’ll get there, but he’s given me so many incredible experiences,” said Lauren, 31. “Day to day, I’m sat at a desk, working in finance. Horses keep me going because they are fun.” Lauren’s proudest moment so far was being on the British team that won silver at the three-star…

ELIZABETH FREW, who works for Kings Bounty Equine Practice in Hampshire, picked up the Vet of the Year Award. Elizabeth knew she wanted to be a vet from an early age. “I grew up on a farm in Scotland where my dad had Clydesdales,” she said. “That sparked my passion; I was always interested in horses.” Elizabeth said it would be “too hard to pick a highlight” from 2021. She has a particular interest in stud and foal medicine, so she especially enjoyed the foaling season. “Any time you help a horse to get better is wonderful and memorable both for me and the owner,” said Elizabeth, who is also an accredited racecourse vet. “One highlight would be watching a long-standing client go clear round a four-star crosscountry in the…

TILLY HUGHES, who works for British Olympic gold medallist Laura Collett, won the Absorbine Groom of the Year Award. The 22-year-old was Laura’s travelling groom for this summer’s Tokyo Games, taking care of London 52. Tilly was unable to attend the awards as she was on holiday, so her accolade was picked up by her friend Jane Felton, who is a previous winner of this award. “Tilly will be blown away because she feels she’s not been in grooming that long, but she’s top of her game,” said Jane. Tilly said: “I look up to many of the grooms who’ve won this before so to win is surreal. I regard the Horse & Hound Awards highly and it’s amazing for grooms to get recognition and appreciation via their own category.”…

DRESSAGE CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN, 36 GBR HORSE: Gio, 10yo Apache x Tango (owner: Annabella Pidgley) THIS pair have been on fire in 2021, bringing home a total of four medals from the Olympic Games and European Championships – Olympic team and individual bronze, and European team silver and individual bronze. The adorable little chestnut, known as Pumpkin, has since been sold to junior European silver medallist Annabella Pidgley, but Charlotte will take back the reins this month to compete Pumpkin at the London International Horse Show for the first time. The pair will start as hot favourites to win; they scored 88.5% for their delightful freestyle routine at the Tokyo Olympics – higher even than Charlotte’s winning score with Mount St John Freestyle at Olympia in 2019. HOW TO FOLLOW THE…

Northcote Stud, Lancs LATECOMER to the sport Stevie G continued to make up for lost time as he collected his second national qualifier win, heading the Blue Chip Dynamic B&C for Rebecca Marsh. The nine-year-old gelding only began his showjumping career last year but has already collected a Hickstead grade C qualifier victory and all his newcomers and Foxhunter double clears. “Hopefully we have a really special one,” Rebecca said. “He did four newcomers double clears in four outings and four Foxhunter double clears in five, and already has some clears at 1.30m. “We’re working on gaining some experience with him – he could probably step up more quickly but it’s nice to have a go at some qualifiers while we can.” The son of Billy Mexico was home-bred by…

ALAN KING’S Edwardstone (pictured), a second-season novice who won the Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown to give the trainer his first Grade One winner over jumps since Uxizandre won the Ryanair Chase in 2015, is a progressive type. But the horse I would take out of the meeting is Constitution Hill. The horse’s owner, Michael Buckley, is one of jump racing’s longest established owners. Back in the day, his Zeta’s Son won the 1976 Hennessy Gold Cup the same day that Grand Canyon, in whom he had a half share, won the Colonial Cup in Carolina. This century, he has had Finian’s Rainbow, Brain Power and, on a foray into the Flat, Toast Of New York, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. But Buckley is, surely, back…