Two Toms turn in the clear

Only Tom McEwen and Tom Jackson can keep a clean sheet, but Ros Canter's blink over the time is immaterial as she scores a huge-margin victory

FINAL PLACINGS

1st Ros Canter (GBR) on Lordships Graffalo

2nd Oliver Townend (GBR) on Ballaghmor Class

3rd Austin O’Connor (IRL) on Colorado Blue

THE Kelvin Bywater-designed track proved influential, with just two clear jumping rounds inside the time from 30 showjumping starters.

The USA’s Katherine Coleman and Monbeg Senna jumped the only clear from the 10 competitors in the morning session. They were one second over the time allowed – 85 seconds – to finish 23rd.

The bogey fence was the first of the three doubles (5ab), where both elements had water trays.

Ros kicked off the top 10, jumping out of order with Pencos Crown Jewel, seventh after cross-country. The mare lowered two fences to finish ninth, but Ros said it was a “benefit” to have a bonus bite of the cherry before jumping overnight leader Lordships Graffalo.

Capels Hollow Drift jumped a superb clear inside the time under Tom Jackson to climb from 10th to fifth, having recorded one of just four double jumping clears from 65 starters.

“What a horse he is to give as much as he did yesterday and then today give even more,” said Tom.

Both Pippa Funnell with Majas Hope and Bubby Upton with Cola, ninth and eighth after cross-country, had two fences down, with Pippa picking up 0.8 of a time-fault. Pippa dropped to 10th, while Bubby maintained eighth.

AIRBORNE TOLEDO 

IT was almost the dream finish for Gemma Stevens and Jalapeno, who looked set for a clear round until they hit the back rail of the final fence. This didn’t affect their sixth position after the cross-country, and Gemma was pragmatic about it.