Tycoon rides to the rescue of Princess Anne’s horse trials

IT WOULD be understandable if Princess Anne and her daughter Zara Tindall — both equestrian Olympians — feel more than a little heartbreak when the final Gatcombe Horse Trials concludes at Anne’s 700-acre Gloucestershire estate this September.

But I can disclose the event has been rescued by insurance tycoon David Howden, 55, head of the Hyperion group. He recently took a ten-year lease on Cornbury Park, Lord Rotherwick’s Oxfordshire family seat which is already home to the Wilderness Festival, known as ‘Poshstock’ — a favourite of David Cameron for chillaxing.

‘Next year the trials will be held at Cornbury,’ I’m told.

‘One of David Howden’s companies will be helping sponsor it.’