Homer's magical royal run

A top showing family leads the hunters, a maxi is best of the cobs and a worker steals hearts with his ride

- ALEX ROBINSON, REBECCA HAYWOOD

Royal Windsor, Windsor Castle, Berks

THE youngest member of a leading showing family proved a chip off the old block as she dominated the hunters at the 2024 renewal of Royal Windsor.

Alice Homer – daughter of Loraine Homer and granddaughter of David Tatlow – began in the saddle of Liz Prowting’s head-turning seven-year-old Bloomfield President (Nicky), who sailed into pole position in the lightweights, promptly booking a spot in the LeMieux hunter championship. However, plans changed when Alice, 22, then topped the heavyweight field aboard Liz’s Bloomfield Distinction (Nixon).

The Homer/Tatlow clan were agile, though, and Loraine swiftly jumped on board the lightweight for the championship.

Judges Nigel Wakley and Lesley Anne Jones – who officiated in heavy rainfall that began partway through the middleweights – had the unenviable job of assessing the final six horses. But they ultimately found a worthy champion in Loraine and the Emperor Augustus son Nicky.

Alice remained on seven-year-old Nixon for the final showdown, a decision she wholeheartedly believed in.

“Mum rides Nicky regularly at home, whereas she doesn’t know Nixon as well,” she said. “It’s such a big occasion to show something you’ve never ridden before. It’s all about our team and the opportunity for the horses at the end of the day.”

Nicky was bred by Daphne Tierney out of Bloomfield Rebekah, also the dam of this year’s top amateur hunter Bloomfield Greystones.

Loraine has won the open hunter honours at Royal Windsor twice prior, on Major Moylaw and Bow River, while David has his name etched on the championship’s Lady Zinnia Judd Challenge Trophy at least half a dozen times.