A bumper fixture hosts 12 intermediate and open intermediate sections, as Paris contenders blow away the cobwebs
Aston-le-Walls (1), Northants
YOU didn’t need a crystal ball to spot a number of horses at Aston-le-Walls who could well be trotting up outside the Palace of Versailles in nine weeks’ time.
Already an Olympic team gold medallist from Tokyo, London 52 notched his third win this season with a pillar-to-post victory in open intermediate (OI) section D for Laura Collett. They scored a 23.4 dressage and added 1.2 time-faults.
“Every time I ride this horse it is such an honour,” said Laura. “This blew the cobwebs away, the ground was good and he’d missed a canter while I was at Badminton so I let him travel. He had a nice spin round – a blowout before Bicton.”
The only horse to challenge in the dressage phase was the 2021 European individual bronze medallist Corouet, 0.2 of a penalty adrift, but Sarah Bullimore parted company with the chestnut on the cross-country at the narrow log pile at fence 7b.
The runner-up was Aussie Andrew Barnett, whose ride Go Tosca was at his second UK event but won Sydney CCI4*-L in November. They added two time-faults to a well-placed dressage of 25.9.
Laura was also in the winner’s enclosure with her “OI champion” Dacapo, who could afford a showjump down en route to victory over Kitty King and her 2023 European individual silver and team gold medallist Vendredi Biats in section E. The latter led after a tussle of scintillating dressage tests with 20.7, but accrued eight time-faults as Kitty was trialling a new bit due to a rule change.
“Dacapo loves OIs, it’s his happy place,” said Laura, who also added 0.8 of a time-fault to a 21.8 dressage. “When he has a good day it’s a winning day. He has all the talent so it is frustrating he doesn’t enjoy five-stars, but we’ve pulled the plug on those and just take him to places he likes.”
Aachen beckons, as well as Boekelo – “we know he loves it there,” added Laura, referring to third and sixth places at the Dutch event.
Another eye-catcher in this section was Kirsty Chabert’s Opposition Heraldik Girl, who is heading to Luhmühlen after completing just the dressage at Badminton. They finished fifth on their dressage of 30.9.
Kirsty got her nose in front in intermediate section A with her Kronenberg CCI2*-S winner Hanerina SSF, finishing 0.3 of a penalty ahead of Laura and Killossery Kaptain – “a horse who hasn’t done much but feels
