Sally Parkyn
CCI**
THE show jumping-bred Billy Bandit gave a jumping masterclass in the CCI** and as a result handed victory to Britain’s Flora Harris. In the increasingly wet conditions, Tony Hurley’s final show jumping phase proved a tough test, and as poles fell with regularity Harris produced one of just six clear rounds.
Promoted from second overnight (43.0), and holding on when her leading ride Monarts Masterpiece hit three, Harris said: “Billy Bandit is a really exciting horse and a very good jumper. This was his best ever dressage mark at the level, which I’m delighted about, as he’s always been quite sensitive in that phase and why we opted to stay at two-star until next year.”
As his name suggests, the Billy Congo-sired winner was bred by the Billy Stud in Sussex, and was sourced from Pippa Funnell three years ago.
Making ground after every phase, the Irish duo of Alison Holden and O My Balladeer filled a popular second placing on 49.7.
The Co Waterford rider was lying in third spot after dressage and cross-country and, despite tipping the last part of the combination, posted the biggest result of their careers. “We’re both new to this level, and have been so nearly there all year,” said a delighted Holden. “Something has always gone wrong in one of the phases, so he definitely deserves this break.”
Bought from Allan McSweeney three years ago, the son of My O My coped well with the ground, as did third-placed Ben Hobday aboard Lawless 11 (51.0). Accompanied by his very vocal fan club, the clean-jumping Hobday ricocheted up the leaderboard from an opening 15th placing, while settling for fourth was Harris again with her overnight leader Monarts Masterpiece (53.5).
Other good results came from Katherine Coleman and the former Sam Watson-ridden championship horse Horseware Lukeswell (5th). This new partnership looked very smart in the country, as did Esib Power, who clocked up yet another smart run and a sixth placing with the lovely thoroughbred Mind Me.
A very competitive class with 29 runners, the cross-country produced only a few surprises.
In third place heading out, Olympian Sharon Hunt was unlucky when Veyga hesitated on the top of the drop to skinny (17), as was Robbie Kearns, who, well placed with Green Master, clocked-up a similar 20 penalties at the Normandy bank complex (12abc).
A further two combinations ran into isolated difficulties, while as the sole non completion, Cathal Daniels walked home with the usually consistent Greenfort Chocolata.