Holly Smith lands victory in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter B and C Qualifier at Aintree Equestrian Centre
Friday 24 January 2025
Supercool, smooth and seemingly unhurried, Holly Smith skilfully guided Nike Van Het Singraven into victory in the UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter B&C Qualifier at Aintree Equestrian Centre’s Winter Classic II.
It was another week, another win for Holly and Nike – the pair topped the Winter Grade C at Arena UK a week earlier.
“He’s one for the future. He has an amazing temperament and ability with the stomach for enormous jumps,” said Tokyo Olympic 2020 British Team member Holly, who won the Royal International Winter B and C Final in 2016 with Quality Old Joker.
A testament to the popularity of this venue, the class didn’t start until 10pm – “I didn’t get home until 3.30am but there was no lie-in as I took my daughter Rosie to school. I had intended to go back to bed for a bit, but once I was up I was fine and rode out,” said Holly, who took one horse aimed for one class and achieved a 100% success rate.
A field of 32 came forward over course-designer Raf Suarez’s 12-fence 1.35m track with early riders meeting problems, but an eventual 10 gained their initial clear round goal to access the jump-off.
It was won or lost on a turn inside a flower island early on the course, and the lead changed several times as riders dared, but in the event, only four provided double clears. Jordan Thompson set a competitive target on Renkum Keyman, however, Douglas Duffin soon relegated the effort on Maserati LH. With tighter lines to the oxer at two and the double, Louise Saywell cruised into the top spot on the scopey Caliblue PS – but the formidable Holly was still to come.
Angling tight to the left-hand wing at one to get the optimum angle to the second fence, Holly made use of Nike’s scope and stride in the penultimate draw to execute tight but smooth, deceptively fast lines. With a flourish of heels at the final vertical, they swept into the top spot with 1.64 seconds to spare.
The Andiamo Semilly x Haarlem seven-year-old, a HOYS 2024 Newcomers and Foxhunter finalist, joined Holly almost two years ago.
“We’d have won the Foxhunter Final if it hadn’t been for my cock-up at the last fence [They finished fourth]. He had a break after HOYS and Arena UK last week was his first show back and he tends to qualify for everything first time of trying,” said Holly, who is looking to the bigger picture.
“He probably won’t be seen much for the next few weeks, I’m trying to do everything right and produce him steadily. He ticks the boxes and I’m just waiting for him to get older, but taking my time, doing the work and not being greedy.”
Louise and the German-bred nine-year-old Caliblue PS (Calido I x Chacco-Blue) – a ride of two months – is Hickstead-bound in second place with Scotland’s Douglas Duffin also joining her in the prestigious Royal International Horse Show Final in third on the handsome eight-year-old stallion Maserati LH (Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve x Nassau).
Aintree Winter Classic II 23 January 2025
UNIBED – High Performance Equine Bedding Winter B&C Qualifier
1st Holly Smith & Nike Van Het Singraven – 0/0 - 29.33
2nd Louise Lovegrove * Caliblue PS – 0/0 - 30.97
3rd Douglas Duffin & Maserati LH – 0/0 - 31.08
NB Results pending final grading
