Jackpot takes the prize

Emily King scores her third win this year on a scopey nine-year-old, while others clock up their first international victories

- LUCY ELDER

EMILY KING and Jackpot led from the first phase to end their season on a winning high with their third three-star victory of the year.

The pair headed in to tackle Beau Wood’s influential showjumping course in the Investec CCI3*-L on their dressage score of 25, having finished bang on the cross-country optimum time.

With Kitty King and Cristal Fontaine just 0.2 of a penalty behind, there was no breathing room. But Emily and the scopey nine-year-old didn’t need it – ending with a confident clear to seal the title in this battle of the Kings.

“I was aware I had no room for error,” said Emily, who was riding the Polly Schwerdt-produced gelding for owners Vicki and Stewart Irlam. “I thought, ‘Just trust him, I know he’s a good jumper and give him a bit of space in there.’

“I wanted to come on the inside lines so that I didn’t have to be too quick and to keep him back on his hocks. He was just fab.”

The undulating showjumping arena and autumnal going meant this final phase was far from a formality. Emily and Kitty produced two of just eight fault-free CCI3*-L showjumping rounds.

Camilla and Alex Wakeley’s Cristal Fontaine showed he is back in business after missing almost two seasons owing to “various little niggles”, with another three-star runner-up spot and a stamina-building stepping stone towards CCI4*-L next season.

“He made the cross-country feel like a piece of cake, which it should do as he’s an experienced horse, but he’s not had that many runs this year and you never know how well they will remember things,” said Kitty. “He hasn’t forgotten anything, which is wonderful.”