Arthur rises again

Rowan Cope enjoys a “dream ride” to take the top spot, with Becky Smith hot on his heels on her hunt ride debut

- CATHERINE AUSTEN

Wynnstay Hunt Ride, Cheshire

ROWAN COPE and Arthur triumphed in the first hunt race of the 2020/21 season, making all the running over the Wynnstay hedges to see off22 other competitors.

It was an eighth victory in these races over natural obstacles for ex-chaser Arthur, now 12, whose form figures since joining the Cope family read 111211F1121.

“He was foot-perfect; it was the dream ride,” said Rowan, jointmaster of the Quorn.

Arthur’s last run was in this three-mile race 13 months ago when, returning from time off with a leg injury, he was pipped at the post by Alex Vaughan-Jones. Rowan’s wife Lydia rode him that day as Rowan was recovering from a bad head injury.

“This season I hunted him and field mastered off him, but when we went into lockdown again he was turned away in a barn,” Rowan said. “Then, when it looked likely we would get going again, I had six weeks to get him fit. I rang [point-to-point trainer] Alan Hill and asked him if it was possible, and he said it definitely was, and he hasn’t missed a day since!