William Fox-Pitt to ride top eventing stallion Chilli Morning

William Fox-Pitt (pictured) has the ride on four-star stallion Chilli Morning.

Chris Stone’s horse was produced by Nick Gauntlett before joining Mary King earlier this season, but following elimination at Belton she decided to give up the ride.

William’s website says: “I have been offered the ride on the stallion Chilli Morning and I am excited to see how I get on with him.

“Mary King, who took over the ride from Nick Gauntlett at the beginning of this season, had been finding him quite big and strong so after Belton suggested to his owner Chris Stone that maybe I should see how I get along with him.

“He is a lovely horse who has been very well produced by Nick and I am very much looking forward to him arriving in the next few days.”

William’s team of four-star horses also includes Parklane Hawk, who is entered for Rolex Kentucky and the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, plus four other Badminton entrants: Seacookie, Macchiato, Lionheart, Neuf Des Coeurs. He also has Pau winner Oslo aimed at Chatsworth CIC***.

Although Chilli Morning holds a Badminton entry and a rider can be substituted, William can only ride two horses there and with the event only four weeks away, it seems unlikely that the world number one would want to run him in place of one of his other mounts.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.