Mark Edwards gets 2025 off to a flying start with the top two places in the Winter Grand Prix at Hartpury University
Monday 06 January 2025
Mark Edwards started 2025 as he means to go on: claiming the top two places of the Winter Grand Prix at Hartpury University’s Winter Classic. He left the best until last, beating his own time on Dillinger NE with a blistering final round aboard Royale Tale.
“It’s a good start to the year,” said Mark, on his first show since HOYS with these two. “They had a nice little break and now they’re ready to start again.”
Course-designer Krissy Spiller set a 12-fence, 15-effort 1.40m track for the field of 25 competitors, and 10 found the key to go forward into the jump-off, both Yazmin Davis and Mark Edwards claiming two rides apiece.
“It was a fair track as there were quite a few horses stepping up to this level, and it was nice to have the big class for the older horses scheduled for midday, it makes a pleasant change,” said Mark.
Yazmin got the ball rolling on Jezzabelle but Mark was out for a win and skilfully reduced the time by more than a second on the Diarado 10-year-old Dillinger NE.
Yazmin wasn’t done and chased hard on top ride Zanbowa Z and came within 0.04 seconds to slot behind Mark. Last to go, Mark knew he’d got the class in the bag, it was just to be decided on which horse. He supplied the best round of the class on Royale Tale, the 10-year-old Montreuxs Tale x Cavalier Royale mare, produced from the start by Mark, scything the corners and taking out a stride to the final oxer to finish out in front with 0.46 seconds in hand.
Although they were on a break, Mark kept his horses fit – “We do like to turn them out when they’re on a break, but it was so wet we were unable to, so they stayed fit.”
Arena UK’s Winter Classic in two weeks is next on the agenda for Mark.
“Immediately after Arena UK we will be busy lambing on the farm for three or four weeks, which will take us into the middle of February, and then we’ll look to competing abroad,” said Mark.
James Wilson topped the 10-horse decider of the 1.40m with Quality Time of Picobello Z, the 11-year-old Querlybet Hero x Nabab De Reve mare gaining a 0.92 second advantage over second-placed Mark and Dillinger NE. Ryan Page eased BP Ko Jax into third spot.
Ryan hit form at this three-day meeting, posting an impressive hat-trick.
“It’s my first visit here and I’ll definitely be going back, it’s well-organised and friendly,” said Ryan.
BP Ko Jax stepped up to take the Winter 1.35m for Ryan. Eighteen riders ran their horses over this 12-fence course with a third achieving their initial aim as six tackling the jump-off. Ryan hit the turbo button on the Elvis Ter Putte x Iroko 10-year-old with 0.81 seconds to spare, pushing Chantelle Duggan and Linton De La Chapelle into second spot. Ben Edwards provided the only other double clear for third on Cantino Ask.
“He’s my superstar pet, so cool and competitive, he’s sharp but he’s proper game and wants to win,” said Ryan, on BP Ko Jax.
Ryan landed victory in the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C qualifier with Curraghgraigue Q Hill. The original 33 starters were reduced to 12 over the 12-fence 1.25/1.30m handicapped track with Ryan easily taking the top spot with a series of economic turns. A Hickstead 2024 SEIB winter Novice finalist, the seven-year-old Obos Quality x Cobra mare is also through to the Blue Chip Calming Performance Championship after winning at South View Arena a fortnight earlier.
“We’ve had ‘Rita’ aka Q Hill, since a three-year-old and she’s just stepped up to B and C. She’s been a winner all the way through, always answers every question and just gets on with it,” added Ryan.
Bethanie Knight’s late draw slipped Davidson Z into second with Darcey Foss on King Rebel S filling third place.
Ryan’s successful week continued with Uno Beech. The pair had already qualified for the SEIB Winter Novice Final at Hickstead earlier in the week, and they maintained their form to head the Winter Six-year-old. The 11-fence 1.10m track halved the start-list of 14 to realise seven for the jump-off, Ryan winning from the front on the Beech House Stud’s home-bred Uno Beech (Numero Uno x Balou Du Rouet), the only partnership to break the 30 second barrier. Alison Rowntree slipped Haslemere Cruise into second 0.74 seconds in arrears and Alexander Bragg filled third riding GRC Einstein.
Ryan broke this mare in and has built a special bond – “I’m the only one to ride her and, although she has attitude and is as green as grass, she’s a trier and has so much scope.”
Husband and wife team Rikki and Claire Gradley claimed a win apiece to qualify for respective finals at the Blue Chip Winter Championships.
Rikki outpaced his rivals to take the 1.25m Winter Championship qualifier on Qaunta Costa JS. Forty competitors came forward over the 11-fence 1.25m track with 13 supplying initial clears to qualify for the jump-off, although two withdrew at this point to leave 11 against the clock. Rikki found all the shortcuts on the nine-year-old Belgian-bred mare Qaunta Costa JS (Berlin x Metropole) to win by 0.94 seconds. Paris 2024 Eventing Team Gold medallist Tom McEwen slotted Kilcannon Mischeif into second with Georgina Beeby Wynn in third aboard Affricks Eclipse.
Not to be outdone, Claire (nee Neilson-Hansen) topped the Blue Chip Calming Performance qualifier on Special Delivery 27. Forty-seven riders tackled the 1.20m two-phase course, Claire and Special Delivery, an I’m Special De Muze seven-year-old out of a former ride of Claire’s, the Marius Claudius daughter Andersons Almare Marius, claiming an impressive 1.19 seconds over Laura Renwick, in second on Top Star C. Tom Harrison guided Mega White VJ into third.
Tom emerged on top in the Winter Grade C qualifier with Mega White VJ. Eleven of the original 18 jumped clear over the 11-fence 1.30m course and joined the jump-off, Tom edging ahead on the Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Zirocco Blue VDL eight-year-old to win by 0.12 seconds. Joe Fernyhough jumped into second spot on Venom and Tom McEwen eased Kilcannon Mischeif int third.
Bex Mason secured victory in the Winter Seven-year-old 11-strong jump-off with the fresh and bouncy Raphael De Lush (Zambia x Puissance) to mark their first win in their two-month partnership. Chloe Reynolds’ late round on Caballero Z came within 0.12 seconds for second place and Emma Slater netted third riding Hullabalou’s Darco.
Image: Jasmine Punter Photography
