Inovation retains her run of form here for the third year, while a big-jumping six-year-old catches many an eye
Young Horse Championships, Weston Lawns, Warks, 30 July–2 August
“This is one of my favourite shows,” said Pippa Allen, after winning the Walnut Hill Equine Veterinary Clinic seven-year-old championship with Anne Bedford’s Inovation.
Pippa’s winning partner would seemingly agree with her – Inovation won the five-year-old title here with Pippa two years ago, finished second in the six-year-old a year later as Stevie Crosby deputised, and made a winning return for Pippa this year.
“Inovation’s a machine, the more you ask the more she tries. When you get a chestnut mare on your side, they’ll do anything for you. She’s definitely my favourite,” said Pippa, who claimed a 1.16sec advantage in the six-horse decider on the I’m Special De Muze x Asca Z mare.
With large ringside banners, two-storey clubhouse with café and huge new display board which gave the name of rider, horse, breeder, breeding information and live scores, the show certainly had a Continental feel.
Yazmin Pinchen made her first show for six months with Dominant H count as she commandeered the XL Motors 1.40m grand prix in a tough 19-strong jump-off.
With three horses in the jump-off, Holly Smith set out as favourite and she nailed every turn to set a sizzling standard on Flipper Darco UK Z. It looked unbeatable. But Yazmin was quicker and tighter on the Heartbreaker x Indorado 12-year-old and claimed an amazing two-second advantage.
“It was stressful watching Holly go three times and I knew I had to take strides out down the distances, but luckily it all came off,” said Yazmin, who found Dominant a handful at his first outing.
“Day one didn’t go according to plan – he’s usually laid-back but quirky, and was so excited he was on his hindlegs some of the time. He calmed down on Friday and finished third but I never thought I’d win against Holly.
“I had to have a go and was determined to ride him forward like Laura [Renwick] and it worked. It was an emotional win but worth it with all the work to get here. Now I want to get back jumping grands prix again.”
“The biggest she’s jumped”
Jessica Botham secured the Synovium six-year-old championship from the front of a 21-strong jump-off with Jane Starkey’s consistent home-bred Manzanita – a double winner at Arena UK two weeks ago.
Jessica, who meets this Cevin Z x Gunner B mare at shows while Jane rides her in the week, held on to a 0.95sec lead, despite a challenge from Holly Smith on Cevann, another by Cevin Z.
“It wasn’t my best riding round but it was the biggest she has jumped and I’m really chuffed with her, she was fantastic,” said Jessica, who last won this six-year-old title 10 years ago with Quiet Easy 4 – a five star ride for Ireland’s Bertram Allen.
Joe Trunkfield was another to regain his title in the Steels Equestrian five-year-old championship, recording his third win with Harry Whall’s Kapri-Fomia. Joe won last year on Kade Hof Ten Zoetendaele Z and in 2016 with Outcome.
He retained this year’s title with 0.65sec in hand in the 16-horse jump-off on the Spartacus TN x Verdi TN mare he has ridden for two months.
“She’s green but runs a lot on her blood so the jump-off suited her. She is careful so we don’t want to chuck her in at the deep end and will take our time with her, but she’s all there,” said Joe.
Kapri-Fomia has had two foals. “She was a recipient mare twice for her mother, so she has actually carried her two full sisters,” explained Joe.
William Whitaker secured the concluding 1.30m championship with a smooth yet fast round on Louise and Henk Minderman’s Eribelle N to win with more than five seconds to spare.
“We did two classes at 1.20m and a 1.30m and that was it for nearly five months. This is her second show back and she just gets on with the job without any fuss – she has a good brain and tries her best every time she goes in the ring,” William said.
Helen Rees missed out on a title and championship rug by just over a second with her home-bred Bianca Du Rouet in the seven-year-old, but clocked up four wins elsewhere.
The Statinus x Balou Du Rouet mare topped a Foxhunter for Helen, while 18-year-old Maximo Des Forets, her long-term partner of nine years, headed a 1.10m, and the Lord Z x Levantos 14-year-old Bart VI stepped up to the plate to double up in an early 1.30m and the A, B and C handicap.
Several partnerships scored double wins. Rosie Heron claimed a 1.10m double on the Luidam x Clover Hill 11-year-old Javas KP, Holly Johnstone and the French-bred eight-year-old Carquois Du Ceve claimed two 1.05m classes, Vicky Connor clinched first in a 1.05m and 1m riding the 11-year-old Dutch-bred mare Siediola V, Caroline Baker’s 11-year-old Irish-bred mare Emmas Star topped two 90cm classes and Claire Hansen-Neilson headed a discovery and 95cm on the Irish-bred eight-year-old Lislarkin Sarco.
“He’s flamboyant and so talented”
William Whitaker and the striking, big-jumping Chakarewo PS caught the eye of many with a clear in the six-year-olds. Tom Williams’ Chacco-Blue stallion out of a thoroughbred mare by Narew only joined William two weeks ago.
“He’s green – these youngsters are six months behind because of lockdown – but I was pleased how he got stuck in. He is an athlete, quiet for a stallion with a good brain and learns quickly; I haven’t ridden many youngsters with the awareness of the jump as he does, it’s very promising.
“He’s flamboyant and so talented he plays around and gets himself into trouble you don’t think he’ll get out of and then he explodes, jumping out of trouble,” said William.
Ref Horse & Hound; 6 August 2020