Riding Old Lodge’s very talented eight-year-old Golden Arrow II, Howley took the top ticket on offer in the Blue Chip qualifier at the end of a very competitive jump-off. Howley had previously ridden this German-bred gelding when he was based with Michael Whitaker and after being reunited earlier this year, he gained a win at REC events before his Arena UK victory.

“He’s been stepping up nicely over the last three weeks and will be travelling to Spain shortly,” said Howley, who also clinched third place riding Fiona Burgoyne’s Corelli.

This son of For Pleasure has been bang on form for his Wetherby-based rider this year, the seven-year-old adding a win and a second place to his record at Northallerton and Bishop Burton before competing at Arena UK.

“The (Blue Chip) jump-off was a very quick one, but this is a nice horse who is showing a lot of promise. This has been a nice warm-up for Spain,” added Howley.

Trevor Nicholson continues his successful run in Scotland. Despite the “windy and wet” weather, he made another productive visit to Morris Equestrian Centre (formerly Rowallan) where Ayrton UH and Amadeus VII finished third and fourth in the main event, a hotly-contested 1.30m.

“I just kept the jump-off rounds nice and tidy rather than race against the clock and I was particularly pleased with Amadeus as it was his first 1.30m since a winter break,” said Nicholson.

Trevor Breen is one of many riders who spends this time of the year educating young horses and getting them out to their first shows. He recently finished third in a 1.05m at Keysoe College riding Amelia Campbell-Horne’s six-year-old Cordis. Breen is another rider shortly departing British shores to compete in Portugal.

Keith Doyle is kept fully occupied with yard duties, teaching and educating young horses at his Hampshire base.

“I’ve never known the weather so bad wet-wise and we have been thankful we have a good indoor school. We have some exciting young horses and the main aim has been bringing them on. It’s been good news and bad in that every time one starts to look fairly useful, they are sold. That said, it’s nice to see them go well for new riders,” said Doyle.

Breen Equestrian’s Hickstead yard has also been a hive of activity and they recently travelled 14 horses down the road to Royal Leisure, the rides shared between Shane Breen and stable jockeys Darragh McCarthy, Michael Duffy and Aoife O’Connor.

Duffy produced the best result as he won the 1.30m two-phase competition riding the Sydney stallion Widny.

At an earlier Royal Leisure show, Darragh McCarthy also recorded a win when Harley Quinn, an Irish-bred six-year-old mare by Harlequin Du Carel, headed the Foxhunter class.

Enjoying competing on the British circuit, but not so much the inclement weather is Dean Wilson, who has joined Mark Evans and Amanda Forster at Castell Sport Horses in Wales.

“I don’t think I’ve seen one completely dry day in the three months I have been here,” reflected Wilson.

The 23-year-old Kilkenny rider previously worked with Denis Lynch and Cian O’Connor and is now fully occupied helping Amanda Forster to compete the four, five and six-year-old horses on from their Powys base in mid Wales.

In recent weeks, Wilson has ridden at South View, Solihull, Fieldhouse and Aintree equestrian centres, his best results being with the six-year-old Del Quinto who has been placed twice at newcomer level.