Sally Parkyn

BRITISH rider Tom Jackson celebrated his second visit to Tattersalls with an emphatic win in the highly competitive Connolly’s Red Mills U24 CCI**. Riding Suzie Jenkins’ eight-year-old mare Dusty, the former junior and young rider medallist led from the front to rack up a six-point advantage and win on his opening score 43.7.

He said: “Dusty felt phenomenal across the country, and gave me such a good feel. I was well up on the clock at my six minute marker, so I was able to cruise her home.”

Jackson sourced the daughter of El Bundy as a four-year-old from Welsh-based dealer Ran Arbel.

“Although she has a Dutch passport, she was bred in Wales. She’s still green but is always consistent,” added the rider. A tilt at the Blenhein eight/nine-year-old class in September is the end of season aim for this smart mare, as it is for second-placed David Doel and Kiltubrid Rhapsody.

The runner-up placing was a popular and timely one for the British young rider, who the previous day had the misfortune to pilot the ill-fated Bottoms Up in the same competition. Setting out as pathfinders, the home-bred Bottoms Up was just one fence from home when he sadly collapsed and was subsequently euthanised.

EXCITING PROSPECT

Kiltubrid Rhapsody, meanwhile was six marks adrift of the winner but is, according to Doel, a very exciting prospect. “He’s a new ride for me and is a super class horse,” said Doel of Niki Ryan and Liz Donald’s nine-year-old.

“It was lovely to do well as the breeder (Michael Tighe) was here this week to watch him. He started off the cross-country a bit ‘show jumpery’ but I had a lot in the tank and he completed six seconds inside the time.”

By Cascaletto St Gyhvan Z and out of Kiltubrid Rhapsody (Lomabardo), the gelding was formerly ridden by international riders Daisy Berkely and Tim Price, and sourced from Lancashire dealer Doug Aldred.

The same band of owners who had supported William Fox-Pitt in the open sector were also on hand to cheer the third-placed Hector Payne and Dynasty. Dorset-based Payne had been a vital member of the Fox-Pitt yard over the winter and indeed had ridden most of the horses while William was recuperating. Dynasty, by Whitesnake, was in fact a former Fox-Pitt ride, and is owned by long-term owner, and Payne’s grandmother, Judy Skinner.

HIGHEST-PLACED

Irish young riders clustered well in the top 10, with the highest-placed award (6th) falling to Lucy Latta and DHI Broadway. Now home from university, Latta relished being back in the saddle and, although a little off the pace on the flat, she made up the deficit with two classy clear rounds.

Reversing places with Latta in the final stages was Kerri Lyons and Olympic Cool. Having produced one of the best rounds in the country, the pair expensively lowered a coloured rail, but still stayed ahead of Cathal Daniels with Sammy Davis Junior.

Less fortune were the well-placed British girls Chuffy Clarke, Emily King and Charlotte East. All three walked home from the country, while GI Master Caster (Holly Woodhead), who had filled fourth place overnight, was withdrawn in the holding box on Sunday morning. Other eliminations included Jodie O’Keefe, who was most unlucky to take a tumble from Zazoe at the final element of the Land Rover water (16c).