Piggy French and Highdown March
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It was as all systems at go on Saturday at Osberton International which comprises the Caunton Manor Stud British Young Horse Championships. It was cross-country day for CCI-L3* and CCI-L2* competitors, while the six and seven-year-old Championship horses completed their dressage and show jumping.
The top two in the CCI-L3* remained unchanged after dressage with Piggy French and Highdown March and Alexander Whewell with Chakiris Star both still sitting on 27.2 after posting penalty free cross-country rounds.
William Fox-Pitt and Summer At Fernhill had been third after dressage on 28.1 but 5.6 times penalties dropped them down to eighth going into show jumping. Conversely, two fantastic rounds from Lizzie Baugh with B Exclusive and Quarryman now see them in third and fifth respectively. Katie Bleloch and Cavalier Mickey Finn separate the pair in fourth on 32.7.
Ros Canter and Shannondale Nadia
The top three also remained unchanged in the CCI-L2* but there is all to play for in this competitive class tomorrow, with just one show jumping fence separating the top 13.
World Champion Ros Canter heads proceedings with Sharon Bayston’s seven-year-old mare Shannondale Nadia on 28.1, ahead of Eliza Stoddart with Priorspark Precocious on 29.5. The latter certainly lived up to her name across country, consistently fighting for her head and disagreeing with her jockey. Mark Davidson and Highlight K are third on 30.0.
“We had a couple of hairy moments out there,” admitted Ros. “She’s big and scopey and has got a lot going for her but she needs to learn to listen to me a bit more. This is only her fourth event this season though so I’m very pleased.”
Stuart Buntine’s tracks generally rode well although the rail, ditch, rail combination which came early on both tracks at fence seven on the 2* and six on the 3* caught out several combinations. Most incurred penalties at the first set of blue rails, with horses either surprised as they faced them off a right-hand turn or by the fact the ground appeared to slip away immediately after them.
Heidi Coy and Russal Z
2019 FEI European Championship individual bronze medallist Heidi Coy leads the Caunton Manor Stud British Seven-Year-Old Championship with Russal Z on 28.9, moving up the leader board after the top two after dressage, Giovanni Ugolotti and Swirly Temptress and Piggy French with Sportsfield Top Notch, both lowered a show jumping pole. Heidi also sits in 8th place with her second ride Helenza.
“It’s a nice surprise to be in the lead going into cross-country,” said Heidi “but it was well within Rosie’s (Russel Z’s) capabilities. She’s a good jumper which she gets from her sire, Russel, and Amy Woodhead has really helped to improve the way she goes on the flat over the last few months. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!”
Giovanni and Swirly Tempress now lie second on 30.3, with William Fox-Pitt and Graffennacht just behind on 30.5.
Two DHI horses lead the way in the Six-Year-Old Championship – Inchello DHI under Yasmin Olsson-Sanderson on 27.4 and Izilot DH, ridden by Ros Canter, second on 27.8. Piggy French and Cooley Lancer lie a hair’s breadth behind on 27.9. Sarah Bullimore had led the class after dressage with the home-bred Coroyale on 25.8 but three show jumps down dropped them out of contention.
Katie Bleloch and Cavalier Mickey Finn
