Smith seizes the moment
Horse & Hound|May 06, 2021
New face Becky Smith clinches pole position in this competitive hunt ride, while a team of non-thoroughbreds head the Foxhunters race
LUCY ELDER
Smith seizes the moment

Fox Grant Silver Spur, Barnetts Barn Farm, Warks

BECKY SMITH capped her stellar first season of hunt races with a win on her consistent campaigner Important Moment in a thrilling finish to the fifth running of the Silver Spur.

The pair were chased home by Mark Heuffand Thegreendalerocket (Rocky), hungry for back-to-back hunt race victories following their Quorn win (report, 29 April).

Mark and Becky cemented their lead in the race’s latter stages, jumping upsides each other three out and rising in tandem again at the second-last. But Becky had the fresher horse and teased a gap in the run-in to the final fence.

Becky, who was third at the Quorn and second in the Wynnstay, said it was watching idol Yvonne Goss (“I’ve always wanted to be like her”) and the “brilliant” Jaffa that inspired her to give hunt races a try.

“I’ve wanted to do it for years and this was my chance. I had a fantastic run,” said Becky, who collected more prizes than she could carry, including first lady and first retrained racehorse.

Zack Davidson and Remarkable Man, third in 2019, set a fierce early pace in the hope of running the rest of the field out of puff. Like all best-laid plans, it didn’t quite survive contact with the enemy. Joe Stevenson came unstuck from his 2018 winner San Cassiano in the brook and the loose horse went on to carry out Zack at fence 10. While the blip cost Zack only seconds to correct, it left the door ajar for Becky and Mark to take control.

Denne historien er fra May 06, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra May 06, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA HORSE & HOUNDSe alt
Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Horse & Hound

Gemirande provides 24-carat magic

Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
‘Happy hunting, everyone'
Horse & Hound

‘Happy hunting, everyone'

“The season for talks, dinners and parties has finally arrived for Tessa Waugh, whose distress about the snags of middle age fades away with some rousing festive spirits

time-read
2 mins  |
December 19, 2024
'Monaco deserved this victory
Horse & Hound

'Monaco deserved this victory

Seemingly destined always to play the bridesmaid’s role, Harrie Smolders’ great partner Monaco finally tops an incidentpacked Rolex grand prix

time-read
4 mins  |
December 19, 2024
'It had to end sometime'
Horse & Hound

'It had to end sometime'

The closure of beloved Hampshire saddlery Calcutt Sons is a loss to the hunting and wider equestrian worlds, as Octavia Pollock reports

time-read
6 mins  |
December 19, 2024
'You couldn't want for more
Horse & Hound

'You couldn't want for more

The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"

time-read
7 mins  |
December 19, 2024
The greatest gift of all
Horse & Hound

The greatest gift of all

Christmas is fast approaching and while we all like a bit of tinsel, the festive season is also a perfect time for giving to a horse charity. Niki Hinman finds out some of the options

time-read
7 mins  |
December 19, 2024
Winter him well
Horse & Hound

Winter him well

A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but what’s the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season

time-read
4 mins  |
December 19, 2024
Neat feet
Horse & Hound

Neat feet

Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead

time-read
5 mins  |
December 19, 2024
In bygone days
Horse & Hound

In bygone days

Modern vets have much scientific knowledge behind them, but what about their forebears? Kieran O’Brien MRCVS opens up the world of Victorian vets in London

time-read
6 mins  |
December 19, 2024
'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Horse & Hound

'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'

Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life

time-read
4 mins  |
December 19, 2024