Emirates rules

A long-striding gelding nets a first grand prix win and a rider stages a winning comeback

- BECKY MURRAY

IT was a celebratory 15-hour drive home to Essex after Alex Bishop and Thomascourt Emirates landed the Marion Dreelan 1.40m grand prix in front of a packed crowd, bagging the £1,000 top prize.

Twelve starters from 27 came back for the thrilling jump-off and Alex used the towering 18hh gelding's huge stride to his advantage to pip Nicky Williams and Darius Des Vignes Du Theil into second.

“It was my first national grand prix win with him; we've always been a little slow,” said Alex, fresh from a podium prize-giving, complete with champagne spraying.

“The verticals were tall and there was a water tray under an oxer off the corner that was wide and caught a few out in the first round. In the jump-off my partner Ronnie Jones said to use his stride and not to overcook him everywhere else, and that’s what I did.”

It was extra carrots for Thomascourt Emirates, who also secured Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualification in the tough-fought 56-strong Events Through A Lens talent seeker qualifier, in which they finished in third.

Seven-year-old Nicole IV took the honours in that class for Manchester-based Angel Tough, who also had Drogba Z and Old Celui De Semily in the jump-off. Runner-up Jordan Thompson scored his ticket to the final with Double De Muze T.L, and the other HOYS spot went to fourth-placed Charlotte Ash and Cali Star.