Showjumping
A catch ride lifts the lid on an exciting talent, while one of Britain’s Olympic hopes enjoys a pre-Tokyo win
Bicton, Keysoe and Valkenswaard
Bicton, Devon
WILL FLETCHER took a surprise win in the Lord & Lady Equestrian newcomers second round with catch ride Kees II.
Will had been asked to “have a sit on” the six-year-old for his cousin Oscar Hobby, who has been riding him for a syndicate, only for the horse to exceed all expectations and collect a Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) ticket.
“He jumped two lovely clears on Saturday in the 1.10m, so we popped him in 1.20m and he jumped lovely again, so we thought we’d give him a go in the newcomers, as it would be a good learning experience for him,” said Will. “He just got better and better every single round; he was flying. It was a strong 1.40m by the end, it was massive.”
The pair delivered the fastest of three treble clears around a well-judged track from Raf Suarez to take the top ticket over runnersup Claire Neilson-Hansen and Eddyco Beech.
“It looks like he’s going to be a
very exciting horse for his owners, who haven’t owned a showjumper before,” added Will. “I don’t think he’s jumped the height of the fences of the second round in his life – the fact that he responded so well is phenomenal.”
Will also took a ticket from second place in the winter grade C with another exciting prospect, Stella and Antony Bunn’s sevenyear-old Baloutero, who has now qualified for three HOYS finals. The horse evented for a season as a five-year-old with Louise Harwood and came to Will a year and a half ago.
“He has improved beyond recognition, he’s so consistent and jumps clear after clear,” said Will.
“I am extremely excited about him for the future.”
It was Joe Fernyhough who headed the grade C with the classy eight-year-old Madesto gelding Iejoor, whom he imported from the Netherlands as a foal.
“I have ridden him since a fiveyear-old – he was very sharp and would spin and drop you, but he’s always been mega-talented,” said Joe. “He’s the type of horse who needs a few classes to get settled and be at his best.
“Like all of the younger horses, he has a bit of catching up to do [because of the pandemic] but the intention is to step him up now,” he added. “He has loads of scope.”
Keith Doyle also found himself HOYS bound with another exciting young horse prospect, seven-year-old Elati, after heading the Equitop GLME Foxhunter second round.
There were just two double clears in the third phase, with Keith and this genuine grey taking the win a full 5.74sec ahead of runners-up Olli Fletcher and IV Willem.
“Wherever he goes, he just gets on with it – he has an unbelievable attitude and a fantastic jump to go with it. He’s lovely at home too, the grooms love him,” said Keith, who imported the gelding from France as a four-year-old.
“He just loves this big grass ring down here, he’s a horse that’s suited to the bigger stage. I’ve never jumped him indoors though, because there was no circuit last year, so we’ll have to come up with a plan for that ahead of HOYS.”
“He just got better and better every single round; he was flying”
WILL FLETCHER ON KEES II