For someone who topped the British Eventing leaderboard as the rider with the most cross-country clears in 2025, experiencing two uncharacteristic falls with his top horse, Galileo Nieuwmoed, at both Badminton and Burghley could easily have been difficult to recover from.
But leading Wiltshire event rider David Doel is very...
Ros Canter and the stunning Lordship Graffalo claimed their second MARS Badminton Horse Trials title with a flawless round in the final showjumping phase, cementing the horse's status as one of the best eventers in the world. Canter now joins a select group of just five riders to have won...
The world’s greatest three-day event riders are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2025 Mars Badminton Horse Trials, which is just about to get underway (Wednesday 7 May).
The Barbury Castle estate saw a welcome return to British Eventing at the weekend with three days of competition, showcasing some of our top riders, including Laura Collett, David Doel, Tim and Jonelle Price, Tom McEwen to name just a few.
Badminton 2025 is nearly here, taking place in early May beytween 7 - 11th. One difference for this year - all tickets must be bought in advance as there won't be any tickets sold on the gate this year. There is the 'early bird' advance ticket discount available, but that...
New Zealander Caroline Powell pulled off a shock victory at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials at the weekend, after Tim Price and Vitali and William Fox Pitt and Grafennacht, who were in first and second respectively, had a number of fences down in the showjumping.
Will Rawlin describes himself as “absolutely fine” as he faces his first ever appearance at the Mars Badminton Horse Trials, which begin on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old first timer, based at Rockley, said he is not overthinking the competition, regarded by many in the sport as the pinnacle in the eventing calendar,...
David Doel’s past two seasons, with his star horse Galileo Nieuwmoed, are the stuff that most event riders can only dream of. A sixth place at his debut Badminton Horse Trials, eighth at Kentucky and runner up at Burghley are the highlights - but for him this is not quite...
Three former successful racehorses, stabled and trained now at Overton Manor Farm (and owned by the White family) in Wroughton have qualified for the Horse of the Year Show at Birmingham’s NEC in October.
Trained by the ladies who will be riding them, the three horses will be competing in the...
When Greta Mason drives through the famous Badminton gates for her debut appearance this week it will be a culmination of a three-year plan.
Greta and her 16.1hh gelding Cooley for Sure (Murphy) moved to base themselves with former Badminton winner Rodney Powell at his Bishopstone yard in 2020, with a...
Barbury Racecourse - a specialist venue for point-to-pointsThere were two doubles on the card at the Tedworth Point-to-Point held at a bright and breezy Barbury Racecourse (April 12) where a large crowd gathered to watch the feature race of the day. The Tedworth Gold Cup (the JM Finn & Co Mixed Open Race) is a stayers test over 3 miles 6 furlongs.
Patiently ridden by Charlie Dando, the Michael Hawker trained mare, Cecile De Volanges, was tucked in behind the leaders for much of the race. Dando made his move five fences from home. Although Turtle Boys was not going to go down without a fight, the mare eventually got up to win by two and a half lengths.
"She travelled well although she made a couple of mistakes early which knocked her confidence," explained Dando. "But as the race progressed she became more fluent, winging everything down the back straight and running on well."
Hawker dashed off to saddle Bobble Mist in the next race, who duly obliged when finishing alone in the Simpsons Subaru and Jockey Club Mares Open Maiden, giving her trainer his second win of the day.
Trouble Digger, partnered by Joe Drinkwater gave elder brother and trainer Sam Drinkwater his first win in a tightly fought finish to beat Joe the Trucker by a neck in the William Bartholomew Party Organisers Club Members Race for Veteran & Novice Riders.
John Wills, who owned and bred the winner, is no stranger to the saddle himself having taken part in the Grand National - back in 1969! Drinkwater's second win came in the 2 mile 4 furlong Open Maiden Race with Breath of Blighty - having run out in his previous race - firmly anchored by jockey, Charlie Deutsch to beat Deal Of the Day, who has now been placed five times in Maidens this season.
Sent to post the 1-5 favourite, the Sally Alner trained Garstin under Luke Kilgarriff led for much of the way and stayed on well to hold off a challenge from Getyouractogether and Amelia Glass and take the Prestat Chocolates Confined Race.
Coeur Brûlée, owned, trained and ridden by David Turner won the Pheasant Inn at Lambourn Restricted Race cosily from Daves Venture. "He's kept and trained from a field belonging to Paul Coombes - my farrier", smiled Turner. "So I have him to thank."
In the Haddon Training sponsored pony races that preceded the main card, Harriet Godfrey, one of the leading pony race riders in the country won Division 2 of the 14.2hh race on Goldwell's Gucci, just ahead of the fast finishing Alfie Martindale and Otterburn Lady. Poppy Scott won the 13.2hh pony race aboard Coveham Generation followed by Division 1 of the 14.2hh race won by Ben Sutton riding Scribblin.
The day concluded with the Tedworth Hunt Charity Race, run in good humour in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and won by Michelle Williamson and Spider.
The morning view from Sasha's 'office' - right above the finish Sasha Thorbek-Hooper takes time off from her day-job at Greatwood to broadcast from Royal Ascot for BBC Radio Berkshire:
As day one of Royal Ascot 2015 draws to a close, we realise sadly that the Sole Power dream has come to an end. A third consecutive win in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes was dashed by the 20-1 outsider Goldream trained in Newmarket by Robert Cowell and partnered to success by the ecstatic Martin Harley - the jockey's first ever Royal Ascot win.
No so subtle - but from the look of the lady on her right she might be wearing trainersFrankie's 50th Ascot winner is within a hair's breadth, but we will have to wait until tomorrow to see if he is able to treat his adoring and waiting public with another of his legendary 'Frankie Flying Dismounts'.
The stand out horse of the day was the magnificent Gleneagles - adding the Group 1 feature race St James's Palace Stakes to his already impressive booty - including the Irish and English 2000 Guineas.
BBC Radio Berkshire Sports Editor Tim Dellor gets a word with Damian LewisAs expected a plethora of celebrities swept through the gates including Ant & Dec and 'A Lister' Damian Lewis.
But as ever it was the Queen who stole the show looking stunning in a fuchsia dress coat over a white and floral dress.
The weather looks set fair for the rest of the week and we will be hoping for some Wiltshire success - the Hannon/Hughes combo are pretty buoyant about their runner tomorrow: Ivawood running in the opener - The Jersey Stakes - against the Queen's Ring of Truth.
My best tip for the day is to swap the heels for flats!
Don't look now Dec, but there's lady behind you in flats!
Trevor Whelan watches the replay screen after riding Oh Land Abloom in Newbury's Pertemps Natwork Handicap Hurdle - on 'soft heavy in places' ground (Nov 2015)Trevor Whelan is stable jockey at trainer Neil King's yard at Burderop, near Barbury Castle. This is his first season as a full professional jockey - last November he lost his claim as a conditional jockey: "This year will be my best year - I've been riding in better races."
We met in Marlborough on the day the Neil King trained Lil Rockerfeller was supplemented as a late entry to run in the Cheltenham Festival's Stan James Champion Hurdle - on Tuesday, March 15. Trevor looks forward to the challenge.
It was a decision made after Whelan rode Lil Rockerfeller to win the Grade Two totepool National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on February 28 by nine lengths. The Racing Post reported the race as being "a typically cool Trevor Whelan ride...with a prodigious leap at the final flight...to land the richest race in Fontwell's history."
That was both Neil King and Trevor Whelan's first win in a Grade 2 race. The fee to supplement the five year-old gelding for the Cheltenham race is £20,000. Lil Rockerfeller is now being quoted at between 40-1 and 33-1.
Neil King told the Racing Post: "I just feel this year the Champion Hurdle is a particularly open race. Our horse is a young improving horse. He is in great form. He will go into the race on the back of a win, which not many in the Champion Hurdle can say."
Lil Rockerfeller It will Trevor Whelan's second ride in the Cheltenham Festival. Last year he rode in the race for conditional jockeys on Gold Cup day. But in 2014 he broke his shoulder two weeks before the Festival. He was riding twelve days later, but was still too sore to race.
Trevor describes Lil Rockerfeller as "A handy sized, strong horse - he's grown in the past year. A stocky lad - muscley and a good-looking horse." How does he think Lil Rockefeller will fare amidst the Festival buzz? "We're just hoping he'll run a solid race."
That morning, up on the Marlborough Downs, he had ridden out for Neil King in driving rain and strong winds: "It was", he said, "cold up there". Trevor is pretty good at understatement! He rides out at Burderop most days - except Thursdays when he finds rides with other trainers such as George Baker at Manton.
When he came to England from Ireland he worked as a conditional jockey first for Ian Williams near Redditch and for George Baker near Salisbury. Then in 2011 he joined Neil King's yard at the St Gatien Stables, Newmarket and moved with King to Burderop in 2014.
Trevor, Samantha and his Lester Stobart awardHis time with Ian Williams was important. It was there he met his wife Samantha who is from Leicester via Australia where she spent time as a track rider. They live in Chiseldon - a short early morning drive from the Burderop yard. Trevor will have his 27th birthday next month.
I asked Trevor how he sees his career in racing. He is a laid back fellow: 'It depends on the horses. You can have a bit of luck. I suppose it takes one good horse to promote you."
He achieved some excellent 'promotion' when he won the At The Races 2013 Jump Ride of the year award. This award is one of the prestigious Stobart Lesters (named after Lester Piggott and sponsored by the Stobart Group.)
In November 2013 Trevor rode Persian Herald to win a two mile handicap hurdle at Fakenham - it was, the award judges said, a 'never say die' effort. Trevor says, a bit quietly, "He was a pig of a horse". Quite unusually, the pair had also won the day before at Leicester.
Trevor is a slight young man and I asked whether he had ever thought of riding under flat racing rules: "Not at the minute." In October last year he did win the Alderbrook Stakes - Glorious Goodwood's annual race under flat rules but restricted to jump jockeys.
It might be tempting to switch rules as he does not have to struggle to keep his weight down: "It's a hard enough job without worrying about your weight. I'm lucky I don't need that struggle."
Trevor with Minnie Milan at Neil King's open day (September 2015)He certainly likes the camaraderie of jump racing's weighing room: "It's good fun. But when it comes down to it - out of the weighing room everyone's serious - they do the job properly. You're a professional athlete at the end of the day - and you have to look like one."
So far this season Trevor has won 30 races - 29 over jumps and one flat race under National Hunt rules. This compares with 34 wins in 2015 and 29 in 2014.
He has rides from other trainers, but Neil King's yard is doing well this year - so he is well placed to overtake his 2015 number of wins. The day before we met Trevor had ridden You Say What to victory at Exeter in a three miles Novices' Hurdle.
Officially the ground at Exeter was 'Good to soft', but it was sticky - and he brought You Say What home to win by three-and-a-half lengths as a 6-1 chance. Next season You Say What is expected to flourish over jumps.
Would Trevor go to the races if he was not riding? "I'd go to Cheltenham if I wasn't riding - but if you're not racing you want to do other things." But he will be racing at Cheltenham next week - keep an eye on Lil Rockerfeller and Trevor Whelan.
Smad Place before the Hennessy Gold Cup (2015)The tough grey Smad Place is listed among the ten possible runners in the King George VI chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
Trained by Alan King at his Barbury Castle yard, the eight-year-old gelding Smad Place caused headline astonishment with his twelve length victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury at the end of last month.
Smad Place will have to equal the Hennessy-George VI double set in 1998 by Teeton Mill - another grey gelding. Trained by Venetia Williams, Teeton Mill won the Hennessy by fifteen lengths.
The five-day entries for this year's King George VI include Cue Card - favoured after his win in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. There are two strong Irish challengers - Don Cossack and Vautour. And Sliviniaco Conti will be aiming to make it a hat-trick of victories in the race - a feat not achieved since Desert Orchid and Kauto Star.
Will we see Smad Place - owned by Mrs Peter Andrews - in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March? One expert writing in the Racing Post reckons that if he loses on Boxing Day, Alan King will go for a shorter race at the Cheltenham Festival - perhaps the Ryanair Chase.
That Festival Grade One chase over two miles and five furlongs was won this year by the Alan King trained Uxizandre with AP McCoy aboard.
On Boxing Day many eyes will be on Smad Place to see if he can claim the King George in the challenging style of that other 'little grey horse' Desert Orchid who won it four times - the first time by fifteen lengths.
Lizzie Hughes: "Breakfast not for jockeys!"Richard Hughes did not get a winner on the last day of his 27-year career as a Flat jockey (August 1.) Glorious Goodwood has been good to him - but not that good.
However, on Sunday morning he did get a breakfast undoubtedly envied by all the colleagues - whether weight-watching jockeys or weighing room staff - who lined up in a guard of honour for him on his last day's racing. During his career Hughes has ridden 2,240 winners.
His wife Lizzie tweeted a picture of bangers, black pudding and fried bread cooking on the stove under the caption: "Breakfast not for jockeys!"
Channel 4 Racing's tweet [Click to enlarge]As he told Marlborough News Online in March, he has had to know his weight every hour of the day - and at five feet ten inches tall it has been some task. That effort was behind eleven times champion jockey Lester Piggott's appreciation broadcast on Saturday by Channel 4 Racing:
"Having been a tall jockey myself I know only too well the challenges that Richard Hughes will have faced during his career. Despite being as close to six foot as any Flat jockey would want to be, he has had an outstanding career."
"His style is elegant, his determination is steely and he is always so patient as a rider. It was a pleasure to watch him all these years."
Now Richard Hughes' world moves from his home at Collingbourne Ducis and the Hannon training yards nearby, just over the border into Hampshire - to Danebury Stables at Stockbridge. During their coverage of 'Hughesie's' last day as a jockey, Channel 4 Racing included a report on his new career by Clare Balding.
Channel 4 Racing tweets the 'guard of honour'She asked Richard about the jockeys he wanted to use: "I'll have a few apprentices here - and give them a chance. If I hadn't been given a chance I wouldn't be here. I think that's important. It's an obligation to give young people a chance in racing."
He was less forthcoming about the established jockeys he would want to use. But he did mention Ryan Moore, Pat Dobbs and Jamie Spencer. On Channel 4 Racing's Morning Line programme he had joked that he 'certainly' had a list of jockeys he does want to use and a list of those he does not want to use.
The stables are owned by Ken Cunningham Brown and include a round gallop on the site of the old Stockbridge Racecourse. Hughes has a two-and-a-half year lease on the stables. And his first task as a trainer will take him round the sales.
In his last column as a jockey for the Racing Post, Hughes signed off: "I will love being a trainer - in fact I can't wait to start - but I have also loved being a jockey...The fact is that I have enjoyed more than my share of luck as a jockey. I am bowing out from a job I have adored, healthy, happy and surrounded by the people I love. I'll settle for that."
FOOTNOTE: In that Racing Post column, Hughes said he was seeking the help of a hypnotist in his bid to stop smoking. He may need a hypnotist to get his appetitte back. Sadly Lizzie's fry-up did not tempt trainer Hughes: "My appetite just wasn't there, which just goes to show." Fry-up or no fry-up, the Racing Post is now reporting that Hills are offering odds of 5-1 that a Hughes-trained horse wins a Group 1 race in Britain or Ireland by the end of 2016.
Chelsea Pearce with (left) Djakota EB aka Hugo & (right) Kilnaboy Buffet aka KilliIt is a very busy time for eventer Chelsea Pearce: next month she celebrates her seventeenth birthday, she has just gone back to school, a new horse arrived a couple of weeks ago from Austria, the eventing season is not yet over - and she is in the process of winning her way from Pony Trials to Junior Trials.
Two weeks ago she rode her ten-year-old gelding Albert VI to win the Open Novice under 18 event at the Treborough Hill horse trials near Minehead. She then came third there on her second entry - seven-year old gelding Djakota EB. A very satisfactory way to round off her sixteenth year.
It all began with GianniShe has been a dedicated rider since she got her first pony at the age of two - that was Chelsea's age not the pony's. And that pony, Gianni, who came from the Blue Cross animal charity, still puts his head out of his loose box at her stables near Marlborough - just to say hello.
There is ample proof of her dedication in hanging in from the kitchen ceiling - row upon row of rosettes!
Chelsea has had great successes at the pony level of eventing. In 2013 she was in Arezzo as an individual competitor with the Great Britain team at the European Pony Championships. The next year she represented Great Britain again at the European Championships - this time at the Millstreet centre in Ireland and despite a fall, she returned with a silver medal.
Chelsea and Albert VI competing at Treborough Hill (photo copyright Jayphotos)Once back at Stonar School, near Melksham, she has to juggle her A-level work with the last weeks of the eventing season. And there must be time too for the other sports she has excelled in - being in school teams for hockey, netball, cross country running and swimming. She is the daughter of the footballer and manager, Stuart Pearce.
It is probably quite lucky that her journey to and from school each day gives her two hours for homework on the bus. She is doing A-levels in PE, psychology, English and biology.
She does not want to go to university: "I really do want to become an eventer." Her mother, Liz, smiles: "The A-levels are just in case she needs them to fall back on when it comes to earning a living."
Once a week she has training sessions with Annabel Scrimgeour who lives in Marlborough, works with Andrew Nicholson at Lockeridge and is also a judge for dressage and eventing competitions. Liz is her greatest supporter - and drives the horse box.
Chelsea...and some of her rosettesChelsea is supported by Ariat who make footwear and clothes for riders, by Haygain the Hungerford firm who make hay steamers, and by Pewsey company Aqueos which makes water-based disinfectants and other products for horses and dogs. And she wears a new skull-cap from Gatehouse and a body protector from Rodney Powell.
She has also had financial support from SportsAid UK - which some years ago supported William Fox-Pitt on his way to becoming a British eventing star.
Chelsea now has three horses. Djakota EB is a seven-year Dutch bred gelding - also known as Hugo. Chelsea has been successfully competing Djalota EB at Novice level.
Ten year-old Albert VI - or Albie - is another Dutch bred horse. He has been with Chelsea for six weeks - which makes their success Treborough Hill all the more remarkable.
The newest arrival is from Austria: Kilnaboy Buffet - a seven year-old Irish bred horse who has been competing at CIC2** level - and twice at CIC3*. Chelsea describes Killi as a "very easy" ride. Just the sort of horse to help her rise up the eventing rankings next season.
(Photo of Chelsea and Albert VI competing at Treborough Hill by kind permission of Jayphotos. Click on photos to enlarge them.)
Salisbury racecourse officials will hold a 7.15 am ‘precautionary inspection’ on Monday morning. With the ground already soft and heavy in places, Saturday’s rain and expected rain on Sunday evening and Monday morning may prove too much for the course.
The Salisbury course’s season finale on Monday (October 13) is the Bathwick Tyres Reduced Admission race day. The six races (first at 2.20pm, the last at 5.00pm) have attracted good entries.
Richard Hughes, champion flat race jockey in 2012 and 2013, will be riding the Hannon entries. This season Hughes has been in a close fight for the title with Ryan Moore.
The Salisbury card's 2.50pm race for maiden fillies includes a horse named Evening Rain – fingers crossed.
Harry Meade & Sparky's Reflection (Photo: Adam Dale)Wiltshire-based rider Harry Meade took the £2,000 first prize in the Retraining of Racehorses Championship at the St James's Place Barbury Internaitonal Horse Trials at the weekend.
Meade won with his versatile new ride, Sparky’s Reflection.
The bay gelding was originally trained over hurdles by Henrietta Knight, but has since had a varied career with his owner Amy Martin, including Pony Club, hunting, advanced eventing – and galloping along the Norfolk coast.
Harry Meade was very pleased at the way Sparky's Reflection performed: “Having come from Henrietta, he’s probably had as good a start as any eventer, and he’s been a real family horse with Amy."
“He might have been a lazy racehorse, but he’s a sweet, charming character and I’d like to see how far he can go in eventing.”
Zoe Wilkinson finished second on Craignure and racehorse trainers’ daughters Kristina Cook (Watergate) and Harriet Dickin (Tilt du Chatelier) came third and fourth.
The RoR Championship bowl presented by Alan King (Photo: Adam Dale)As Kristina Cook completed her clear showjumping round, she was clearly thrilled: "Wow - that feels like I've just won gold at the Olympics, Wally [Watergate] tried so hard, thoroughbreds are such a generous breed".
Ginny Howe led going into the final jumping phase on Creeslough, but the horse put in an abrupt stop at a fence on a slope.
The Retraining of Racehorse Eventing Championships is sponsored by RoR and the National Trainers Federation. The prizes were presented by Barbury's home jumps trainer, Alan King.
Retraining of Racehorses is the official charity for the welfare of former racehorses. It aims to raise funds from the British racing industry to help support charitable retraining and rehoming of retired racehorses.
Tim and Jonelle Price - in their Olympic stripMinal based event rider Tim Price, in Rio with Ringwood Sky Boy as travelling reserve, has been drafted into the New Zealand team - it will be his first Olympic appearance.
Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance director Sarah Dalziell-Clout says they are an exciting and experienced combination and Ringwood Sky Boy - known at the yard as Oz - has good eventing form at the highest levels.
This last minute change in the team follows a freak injury to Marlborough based Jock Paget's horse Clifton Lush. The horse cut his cheek on a pipe that had come loose outside his stable.
The cut was healing well and Clifton Lush passed his trot up examination, but it was decided the horse needed more time to make a full recovery.
Tim Price checks the depth of the water on the Rio cross country courseA New Zealand website quoted Jock Paget: “Obviously it is very disappointing for me and Clifton Lush’s owners, but we’ve decided this is best for the horse."
"It’s been a real team effort from the Rio 2016 Veterinary Hospital and our own vet Christiana Ober – they have all given Lush exceptional care and attention.”
Tim now joins his wife Jonelle in the team along with Olympic veteran Sir mark Todd (based at Badgerstown) and Clarke Johnstone.
Tim Price will go out first for the New Zealand team. He will be followed by Sir Mark Todd on Leonidas II and Clarke Johnstone with Balmoral Sensation.
Jonelle Price and her feisty grey mare Faerie Dianimo will go last - a spot usually held for those with a good chance of an individual medal.
Barbury Racecourse - a specialist venue for point-to-pointsThere were two doubles on the card at the Tedworth Point-to-Point held at a bright and breezy Barbury Racecourse (April 12) where a large crowd gathered to watch the feature race of the day. The Tedworth Gold Cup (the JM Finn & Co Mixed Open Race) is a stayers test over 3 miles 6 furlongs.
![Channel 4 Racing's tweet [Click to enlarge]](/images/images/Equestrian_-_Horsebox/RICHARD_HUGHES_/C4_RACING_AP_ON_HUGHESIE.jpg)
