Riding the eye-catching Shearwater Touchingwood for long-time event enthusiast Jeremy Lawton, Townend completed on his opening score of 41.9.

“I just love the breeding,” he enthused of the grey. “He’s by Clover Echo, out of a Cruising mare who is out of a Sky Boy mare. My business partner Nina Barbour bought him from Alo McEntee when she came over on one of her shopping trips. He was four years old then, and he’s still immature, but he’s looks very promising.”