HOLLY Smith took time out from her show jumping commitments at Hickstead to qualify Foxcovert Grey for Horse of the Year Show (HOYS), courtesy of a win in the Alltech open working hunter class.

Smith had already shown her rivals a clean pair of heels in the Bunn Leisure Tankard with Quality Old Joker and two days later they earned equal third, on four faults, in the Hickstead Derby itself.

In between times, Smith rode a perfect working hunter round on Foxcovert Grey.

The upstanding gelding had been bought as a four-year-old from Liam O’Meara and Smith and her husband Graham have both field mastered with him over the Quorn and Readyfield Country.

“He is quite a character, but jumping is his thing. He has sensational paces, covers the ground and always gives a good ride. He can turn his hand to anything as he’s show jumped here this week and he also events,” said Smith, who had only just returned to the saddle after breaking her tibia and fibula four months ago.

Also producing good clears to finish second and third in the working hunter were Katie Leetham (Atlantic Slim) and Katy Green riding her in form son of Ricardo Z I’m A Diamond.

Jayne Ross added another Hickstead hunter tricolour to her already impressive tally at this Sussex venue, her champion this time being Bella Malim’s winning middleweight Bloomfield Valhalla.

This cracking bay five-year-old by Lux Z out of Danroe Clover was a 2016 winner at Balmoral and Tattersalls for Jane Bradbury, and Bella bought him last October.

Valhalla was quickly off the mark on British soil this term as he qualified for the Royal International and Horse of the Year Show at his first attempt.

“He sits up, looks through his bridle and swings along so easily with lovely loose paces,” said Ross.

Taking the hunter reserve was Hetty Spencer riding her heavyweight winner Lord John, an upstanding eight-year-old by Crosstown Dancer.

CLEAN SWEEP

Making it a clean sweep for Irish-bred horses in the hunter weight divisions, the Porsche eight-year-old Kenlis Carrra topped the lightweights for his owner and rider Christian Kwek.

This versatile chesnut, bred by Paul Gilsenan, combines amateur, flat and working hunter classes and is destined to go hunting with the Warwickshire and North Cotswold packs this winter.

The first hunter winner of this meeting was Elizabeth Ahern’s EPA Sonny Bill, a flashy grey six-year-old by Breeda Mountain out of Breeda Lady, who stood top of the small division for Katy Jerram-Hunnable.

“He only came to us a couple of weeks ago and he’s proving a very easy-going horse. This is our first outing, so to qualify for HOYS so early is a real bonus,” said Hunnable.

Ian Smeeth took the cob championship aboard winning heavyweight Tristar, Nina Finlay’s purebred Irish Draught who is by Bridgeford Ferryman.

Standing reserve was the second-placed heavyweight, the McCourt’s eye-catching piebald eight-year-old Rockstone Raven who was ridden by Jayne Ross.

Best lightweight for Chris Hunnable was Liana Stanford’s Knightsbridge Seventh. The six-year-old was originally bought by Keith Martin at Ballinasloe Fair three years ago.

“Keith gave me a ring one evening, sent me a photo over the telephone and the deal was done by 1am. This is his first HOYS qualifier, so we have had an awesome day,” said Liana.

A confirmed lover of Irish cobs, Lynn Russell gained a winning double with Jovian, who topped the maxi line-up, and Cappa Sham, who won his native class before taking the coloured tricolour. Both horses are owned by Baileys Horse Feeds.

The six-year-old Jovian, a full draught by Star Kingdom, was bought in Ireland from a video. Although lightly shown this year, the roan gelding has won four times in five outings and he also carries the side-saddle.

“He is the ultimate armchair ride,” said Russell.

The seven-year-old Cappa Sham is on a real winning run, as he had previously registered wins at Windsor, Surrey County and Ardingley.

“He came across as a very raw four-year-old and he has taken time to mature, but he is the nicest horse to ride. He just takes you along and he is the ideal side-saddle horse,” concluded Russell.

Lady Sue Huntington’s Heritage champion Slieve Bloom Jill again demonstrated her liking of Hickstead by notching up her third win in a year.

The 2016 champion again gave a flawless display and great gallop to defend her crown successfully in the international arena.

Produced by Richard and Marjorie Ramsay and again ridden to perfection by Hannah Horton, the Brock Lodge Buster nine-year-old always seems to rise to the occasion and she will be back this month to defend her 2016 Royal International title.

“She’s a real charmer who patrols the headlands with the dogs at home,” said Richard Ramsay.