THE stage has been set for a rerun of last year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Shire showdown, as both first and second-placed horses earned their return tickets here after retaining their mare and stallion national titles.
The concluding female battle saw victory go to the 2023 NEC victor, the imposing five-year-old Batley Pepper Gray, shown by owner Rob Bedford of Hartcliff Shires.
“This was her first outing since Birmingham,” said Rob’s wife Alex. “She wintered out and has really matured; we think she is looking and going better than ever, so we were quietly confident today.
“She’s a granddaughter of our 2008 national champion, Boothay Richard, and we hope to put her in foal next year.”
Pepper will now have a quiet season, as Alex is expecting the couple’s second child in May.
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