We can’t wait to see

To continue our series on stars we can’t wait to see once lockdown ends, Jennifer Donald goes behind the stable door with a brand new recruit to showjumping, who has the credentials to be a championship contender

New recruit to the showjumping ring Denver

Age: Breeding:

Albfuehren’s Memphis x Chico’s Boy

Owner: Ian Dowie

Rider: Holly Smith

Breeder: MG & AA Woertman of the Netherlands

Greatest achievements: winner of CSI3* grand prix in Vilamoura (October 2019); third in the CSI5* grand prix of Amsterdam (January 2020); winner of the La Vanguardia Trophy at the CSIO5* Barcelona (October 2019); three podium finishes at London Olympia CSI5*-W (December 2019); winner of a speed class at CSI4* Liverpool International (December 2019). Fifth in the CCI4*-S at Chatsworth (May 2019) with former rider Constance Copestake.

RIDER HOLLY SMITH

“IT was actually through Di Lampard that I found Denver last summer, as she was coaching his previous rider Constance Copestake, who’d been eventing him.

Di said he seemed like a very good jumper, but it’s a completely different kettle of fish jumping 1.60m to 1.30m. So they kindly sent him to me to try and he felt very athletic and supple, and all credit for that goes to Constance, who did a super job with him.

“Then it all escalated unbelievably quickly – at just our second international show, the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, I said to my husband that I thought he’d win a rankings class and he did. Then he jumped double clear in the Queen’s Cup, too.

“Denver can be quite strong – you need to maintain a good body position or he’ll tug the reins out of your hands. He’s definitely a professional’s horse. He has a real sense of humour – in the ring, though, he knows he has a job to do.

“I’ve already had such amazing moments with him, including winning the grand prix in Vilamoura, then finishing third in his first five-star grand prix in Amsterdam.

“He was supposed to support my top horse Hearts Destiny during this Olympic year but he has all the potential to be a real championship contender himself.

“That would be the dream.”

HOLLY’S SHOW GROOM KATE DODD

“DENVER’S very easy, a lovely horse, but he’s a slippery customer – Dirty Den we call him! He’s pretty sly and you have to keep your wits about you. For example, when you’re turning him out in the field, he’ll try to take off with you. Even when he sleeps he keeps one eye open and I bet he knows I’m talking about him right now; he’s a great character and very clever.

“At shows, he’ll eat about five meals a day – he’s like a professional athlete, a whippet even – you just have to keep fuelling him up. He really loves his job and he’s fun to watch.”

OWNER IAN DOWIE

“I’VE known Holly for a while and I’d just bought Quality Old Joker from her when she suggested this horse, who was a bit chancey, had done little showjumping – he only had about £70 on his card – and was a lot of money. But she said, ‘Let’s see how he goes at a show’.

“Denver is big and strong and you could see he had a mind of his own, but Holly is an exceptional jockey and he jumped really well for her. The problem with all the success he’s had is that everyone immediately had their eye on him, especially coming into an Olympic year. I could have sold him 100 times over, but I said to Holly, ‘How do you replace a horse like this?’

“I’d love to see him represent Great Britain in a team, jump in a World Cup – anything over and above that would be a dream. The postponement of the Olympics was a huge disappointment, but it could have done us a favour as he’s getting better with every outing, so could be a stronger proposition next year.”