Bradburne is on a winning streak

While the Grand National was taking place – a race synonymous with Katie Bradburne’s own family – the teenager proved her own winning credentials

KATIE BRADBURNE was an undisputed star of the show, winning both the Blue Chip Pro Sparkle JC/JA championship and the Bliss Of London pony coral championship in exemplary style.

The Pro Sparkle was the opening class of the pony championships and 15-year-old Katie underscored her form when she piloted her three rides through to the jump-off.

She took an early lead on Claire Crossman’s elegant black 10-year-old Shovern Inca – who would later go on to claim the coral – but was knocked off the top spot by Lola Thulborn and Edenside Rosie Blue.

But Katie slashed a dramatic 3.4sec from the target with the classy 10-year-old Connemara Derryinver Rocky (Winnie) – who was Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) newcomers champion for her brother Thomas two years ago.

Gabriel Mattle and Miskaun Harvey came within 0.28sec of Katie’s time but couldn’t depose this promising combination.

“‘Winnie sometimes doesn’t really show his scope until you push him and then you really see what he’s capable of,” said Katie. “He was so good to me in that jump-off.

“I’m a brand ambassador for Blue Chip, so it’s really nice to win their final,” she added.

Katie, the daughter of former jockeys Mark and Gee Bradburne, took over the ride from her brother in January and plans to tackle pony showjumper qualifiers this summer.

“He did a couple of pony show jumpers in Thomas’s last year. We’d like to jump some viewing trials in the summer as well. I’m going to take it slowly with him,” she added.