Billy Twomey saves the best until last in the Cavago 3* Grand Prix at Bolesworth International
Monday 19 June 2023
Smooth as silk yet deceptively fast, British-based Irishman Billy Twomey landed the Cavago Grand Prix on Chat Botte ED to finish Bolesworth International on a high.
“All grands prix wins are special but this is more so as, until six years ago, this was my neighbourhood and I have a lot of friends here,” said Billy, about his poignant win – “The first thing I used to do when winning a grand prix is ring Sue Davies [Billy’s late long-term owner] but she’s not with us anymore and she’d have loved this.”
Spanish course-designer Javier Trenor set a challenging 13-fence 1.55m track for the 50 riders and, as has been his trademark all week, the tight time allowed caught out some. Thirteen returned to the jump-off, the 10 clears were joined by three on time faults only, carrying their faults and going in reverse order of merit.
Fittingly, those with clean rounds filled the top five places with Puissance hero Guy Williams and Ernie of Greenhill Z taking an early lead over target-setter Yazmin Davis aboard Zanbowa Z. But Ireland’s Jonathan Smyth, 23, winner of the first of the world-ranking classes, upset the order with an economical round on Mulvin Lui to wipe one whole second from Guy’s time. He remained at the top of the leaderboard as Billy entered the ring.
Using his final draw to maximum effect, Billy provided a masterclass in jumping with smooth turns and an even pace to slice 1.35 seconds off the time to take victory on the 15-year-old Casall x Darco stallion Chat Botte.
“I’ve had him for four or five years now and he’s extremely talented and fast-thinking; nine times out of 10 he leaves the fences up, but he is headstrong and I have to present him in the right place and give him all the options to do the job,” said Billy. “I had the beauty of going last but when you turn him tight, sometimes he can be slightly naughty and nip past a fence so, I kept him moving and he’s so quick across the ground, I knew we’d get there.”
It was only by chance Billy jumped in the Cavago Grand Prix.
“He got travel sick travelling to Bourg-en-Bresse a couple of weeks ago and I hadn’t planned on jumping the Grand Prix. We sneaked in qualification and I didn’t think he was perhaps in the right condition but [friend] Dave Quigley said ‘Go in and give it a go’.,” added Billy.
Best placed Brit Guy Williams finished third: “My horse is a bit slow and my main focus was to beat the seven that had gone before me. Jonathan just beat me and I thought Billy would win it – but I want to know who invited the Irish!” he quipped.
The Hird & Partners 3* 1.35m fell to Ireland as Sven Hadley outpaced Sienna Charles in an exciting jump-off. Eighteen riders from the original 37 starters returned to chase the clock in the jump-off but Sven had the win sewn up by 1.09 seconds on the 12-year-old Fabuleu VD Watertoren. Sienna had to settle for second on Chawton with Phillip Spivey and Billy Pearl in third.
Jay Halim partnered Amelie Bradshaw and hit the turbo button to win the Northcote Stud Mini Major. Fourteen pairs tackled the relay track with Amelie setting the pace for Jay to follow and they held off several serious challenges to remain at the top of the leaderboard by 0.59 seconds.
Olivia Banks claimed the 1* 1.35m, outpacing her eight jump-off rivals by 1.05 seconds on the Bodinus x Corland 12-year-old Geodina HS. Ireland filled the next two places with Isabel O’Brien in second on Javas Gucci ahead of Sven Hadley in third aboard Castlefield Blue.
Corinne Beech (nee Collins) raced to the top in the 1* 1.25m speed on the 15-year-old Dolores P (Zacharov x Quidam De Ravel), beating all her 44 rivals by 0.24 seconds. Jenna Palmer Evans chased hard to take second place on Neranja.
Winners earlier in the week, William Walker and the consistent Jirostar landed the Dallamires Stables 5-year-old Grand Prix. The 48 starters were halved to 24 for the jump-off with William landing the win by 0.34 seconds on the Big Star x Super De Bourriere mare.
Tony Pearson claimed victory in the amateur grand prix with Wyoming 19. Nine of the original 29 jumped clear over the 1.25m track to access the jump-off but only two posted double clears, Tony and Tracey Cottrell’s 10-year-old Wyoming easing ahead by 0.35 sec.
Grace Wallace lifted her second win of the week on Eau Claire V in the Helite UK 1.05m. The 36 competitors were reduced to 16 for the jump-off, Grace and the Calvaro Z x Julio Mariner XX 14-year-old mare flying into the top spot by 0.81 sec.
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