Top prize for superstar

Hard-working home-producers are on form as the final few Hickstead places are confirmed

- ALEX ROBINSON

BSPS Area 15, Ashfields EC, Essex

AFTER landing a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket the previous week, Izzy Stanley and the 15-year-old Noble Sir Prize (Percy) continued their run of clear rounds to land the Royal International (RIHS) working hunter section title. The prolific gelding is on loan from the Eddis family.

“I’m so lucky to have this opportunity to ride Percy,” said Izzy. “He’s so reliable and so far this season we’ve had five consecutive wins, qualifying for the Royal International, HOYS and the Burghley Gold Cup. He’s also super safe; my younger sister often jumps on him to go for a hack.”

A competitive Pretty Polly home-produced championship was won by lead-rein Welsh section A Wait with Wood Sorrel (Nacho), ridden by seven-year-old Millie Rackham-Cobb and led by her mother, Heidi.

“Nacho is a dream pony and is totally trustworthy,” said Millie’s grandmother Jane Rackham, of the 12-year-old by Tamevalley Sahara. “He’s also ridden by Millie’s older brother Declan, who just likes to plod about at home. He’s kept at my house down the road. Millie suffers from focal seizures but she spends as much time as she can with Nacho.”

Petra Jensen’s promising lightweight Morrows Countryman (Bradley) scored the cob tri-colour with Libby Robertson at the helm. Bradley was bought from Ireland-based Robert Morrow in December 2019.

“Bradley had a very quiet 2020 which gave us the opportunity to bring him on slowly and prepare for his novice season,” said Libby. “He’s a complete gentleman – safe as houses to hack out but is a little pocket rocket in the ring.”