Fortune favours Fame

Carl Hester comes away with a grand prix one-two and there's a smart winner in the young horse classes

- JO PRESTWICH

Somerford Park Premier League, Cheshire

“WHAT can I say? Fame is just famulous, a proper little firecracker and a fantastic horse to ride,” said Carl Hester after winning the grand prix on 77.98% and finishing second with En Vogue. “He makes it feel effortless – it’s a great way to ride round a grand prix, particularly on a hot day like this. I was glad I was riding two hot horses, it was far too warm for a lazy one.”

A recent MRI scan revealed that the ligament damage that kept Carl out of competing at Addington International earlier this year was actually three broken bones.

“I hate to admit that I fell over backwards slipping on the patio with the dogs,” he said. “I wasn’t anywhere near a horse.”

As for Vogue, Carl said: “He got upset going down to the arenas but worked through it. It was a tense start but he then relaxed. The piaffe/passage felt good as did the changes and he nailed the final centre line, halted and walked out on a loose rein. I was really pleased.”

TACK CHECK 

CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN has hit the ground running since her return to the saddle after having a baby, with two wins at Windsor followed up by three at Somerford. It would have been four but for a tack malfunction whereby her bit was the wrong way round, which garnered elimination in Friday’s prix st georges (PSG) with Times Kismet.

The win went to Davy Harvey riding Judy Peploe’s Diamond Blue. It was only a third PSG for the son of Don Frederic, who followed up with a win in the final day’s PSG.