To sign up please enter your details below:
5 minute read
ENTRIES REVEALED FOR INAUGURAL ARC RACEHORSE TO EVENTER CHALLENGE CUP AT CORNBURY HOUSE HORSE TRIALS
Former racehorses who started their careers in the hands of some of the best-known trainers in Britain and Ireland are among the entries for the inaugural £50,000 Arena Racing Company (ARC) Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup at Cornbury House Horse Trials (10-14 September) in Oxfordshire.
They have now been retrained for the sport of eventing by the likes of William Fox-Pitt, Bubby Upton, Piggy March, Izzy Taylor and Oliver Townend, along with a host of passionate amateur riders. All 49 will be determined to capture the unprecedented first prize of £45,000.
This new class, designed to promote and showcase the suitability of ex-racehorses for eventing, is the brainchild of Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud, a prominent owner of both racehorses and event horses, as well as the stallion Golden Horn. It has the support of Arena Racing Company, and is hosted by David Howden, who shares Jayne’s love of both sports, at Cornbury House Horse Trials.
Jayne said: “To see such a full entry list fills me with joy. David and Fiona Howden have my eternal gratitude for providing one of the most beautiful event venues in the UK and doing all the hard work of bringing this class to reality as part of the fantastic Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme [TAP] they created.”
Jayne has a horse competing in the ARC-sponsored Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup - Our Old Fella, who ran once on the Flat when trained by Mark Loughane, but a star in his second career with Piggy March, who will ride him at Cornbury. Jayne also has a connection with the Mike Jackson-ridden Bhodi; she owned the Dark Angel son, who ran 10 times on the Flat for Sir Michael Stoute and then Kevin Frost, when he was in training and later sold him to current owner Emily Oppenheimer for eventing.
Piggy March said: “This is such a fantastic new class - a really exciting addition to the calendar with a very generous first prize. We are so grateful to David Howden, Jayne McGivern and ARC for this initiative, and for recognising and encouraging the undeniable talent former racehorses have for eventing. These horses have stamina, speed, ability and great temperaments and this should be a super class to watch at Cornbury.”
Bubby Upton is riding Enhanced, bred and owned by Jeff and Phoebe Hobby of Brightwalton Bloodstock. He ran for Hughie Morrison on the Flat before being retrained by Phoebe and her son Henry. The latter started the son of New Approach’s eventing career before handing the reins to Bubby Upton, who won with him on the pair’s most recent start at Frickley Park.
Among the favourites to win the £45,000 first prize will be local Oxfordshire rider Izzy Taylor, who has had excellent form at CCI3* level this season on Bayaanaat, also by New Approach. The nine-year-old ran on the Flat before switching to Oliver Sherwood to go hurdling, and started eventing with Izzy in 2022.
William Fox-Pitt, whose career highlights include a record six Burghley victories, has Hussard Brun, who ran in National Hunt bumpers for Richard Hobson, entered, while nine-times CCI5* winner Oliver Townend will be aboard former point-to-pointer Brookfield Carnivan.
One of the entries with the most success on the racetrack is Soupy Soups, who earned £90,702 during his racing career while in training with Neil Mulholland. The 14-year-old Stowaway gelding ran 40 times and has since gone on to thrive in his second career as an event horse with Francesca Bishop.
Another to note is the Australian-bred Sparky Lad, who accumulated £29.015 over his 13 runs for trainer Chris Waller. This 10-year-old is now ridden by New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and has recorded notable results at advanced level.
Travelling over from Ireland for Cornbury is Cold War, formerly in training with Henry De Bromhead. The nine-year-old by Declaration Of War is now ridden by Orlagh Halliday, and the duo won the Cornbury Thoroughbred Pathway class this year at The Clare Horse Trials in Co Armagh.
As well as superb equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is an innovative and exciting blend of local, sustainable food and drink from our neighbouring farms, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities over the weekend of 13-14 September, all in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park. There’s no doubt that Cornbury House Horse Trials promises a fantastic day out for families, as well as riders, owners, guests and spectators.
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of one of the most anticipated equestrian events in the country. Tickets start from just £10, and children 12 and under attend for FREE. Book your tickets today and join us for an unforgettable day for the whole family at Cornbury House Horse Trials.
All the cross-country action from Cornbury House Horse Trials will be shown live on Horse & Country TV’s streaming platform H&C+.
To buy tickets, see timetables of each class and for more information, visit cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk.
Image: Izzy Taylor and Bayaanaat competing at Cornbury House Horse Trials, credit Peter Nixon.