'Delinquent' finds a new level of reliability

A 10-yearold gelding is a reformed character and even a bomb scare can't halt Mark Edwards' golden winning streak

- SARAH RADFORD

Chard, Somerset 

SAMMIE-JO COFFIN’S former “delinquent” Elsalvador Van’t Scaaphof Z seems to have found a new level of reliability this season, taking his second area trial win of the year here.

The 10-year-old gelding, who was bought from a friend for £1 because he was so difficult, delivered the fastest of four double clears in a six-strong jump-off, edging a fraction ahead of last year’s victors Yazmin Pinchen and Zanbowa Z.

“It was a good class with some good horses in it and I tried to be as tight and fast as I could, he’s very elastic,” said Sammie, who also won the trial with him at Royal Cornwall. “I turned really tight to the last, which was something he once might have thought about running past.

“He went to the nationals and was clear the first two days; he’s adapting to everything really well and starting to take it on board,” added Sammie, who bought the horse as a five-year-old. “He’s always been really careful and really scopey.

“You’d hope he’s getting a bit more mature now – it’s been five long years!

Sammie has hit the ground running this season with her two grand prix rides, Elsalvador and Chaccomo Blue, since having a daughter in April.

She stopped in at Chard on the way back to her Cornish base from Shrewsbury Flower Show, where she was second in the grand prix riding Chaccomo Blue.

“Compared with Shrewsbury the day before, Krissy Spiller’s course looked really nice, he just skipped round it,” Sammie said.