“IT meant everything to me – I think the air-punching said it all!” said Harry Wainwright, who claimed his first-ever grand prix victory, partnering the ever-improving Pinheiro Beach.
The combination had laid solid foundations with a super-consistent run-up to this show, finishing inside the top four on their last three grand prix runs.
“[Pinheiro Beach] has just been on fire and has got better and better; I can’t believe how well he’s jumping,” Harry said. “I have been wanting a grand prix win for years and it feels good to finally get one.”
Harry has started to push the 12-year-old gelding against the clock this season, having previously had “an obsession with clear rounds”.
“Aintree was the turning point,” said Harry, who originally owned the horse with Michael Whitaker and Di Fairclough, but bought out their share when he was an eight-year-old. “I wanted to jump a nice clear. I was on the phone to my mum at Aintree and she said, ‘You have nothing to prove with that horse, you need to start having a go.’ Since then, we’ve been getting quicker and quicker and closer and closer until it all paid off.”
Riders were unanimous in their praise of the competitiveness of this jump-off, in which 14 combinations came forward.
Just 0.12sec separated the top three, with Jess Hewitt and Kann Be Lucky finishing 0.06sec behind the leaders, while Paul Barker and his stallion Green Grass were a close third. The remaining double clears were delivered by Robert Murphy (Elan V), Keith Shore (Mystic Hurricane) and Adrian Speight (Millfield Baloney).
Denne historien er fra December 02, 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.
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Denne historien er fra December 02, 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.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat
‘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
'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
'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
'You couldn't want for more
The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"
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
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
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
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
'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
