Miles O’Donnell landed victory in the first Redpost Equestrian Senior Foxhunter Second Rounds at Stainsby Grange with Jackpot DS
Monday 28 April 2025
t9euklj8o82i.jpg "Miles O’Donnell landed victory in the first Redpost Equestrian Senior Foxhunter Second Rounds at Stainsby Grange with Jackpot DS")
Kicking off the opening Redpost Equestrian Senior Foxhunter Second Rounds this weekend in style, Miles O’Donnell landed the victory at Stainsby Grange with his own Jackpot DS.
The field of 49 competitors came forward over the 1.25m track with 19 supplying initial clears and an eventual seven returning for the final jump-off. Three combinations flew around the course to secure their triple clear, the results coming down to the clock. It was Miles who utilised his penultimate draw to maximum advantage and found the shortest route, crossing the finish in a time of 36.83 seconds.
David Harland rode Nicola Woods’ Murchacko Quatro into second place, just 0.30 seconds off Miles’ pace whilst Ronnie Lee Jones slotted into third with Alex Bishop’s Ultimo N Z, a further 0.60 seconds in arrears.
No stranger to a victory at this venue, Miles and the 10-year-old Jackpot won the Newcomers Second Round last year to secure their first ticket to the Horse of the Year Show where they finished an eventual third in the final.
“Two years ago, we took a chance on him, out of a field and he has exceeded all our expectations. He’s stepped up to Ranking classes this year and has just taken it all in his stride,” said Miles. “He started his career quite late; he was eight, and it was a real shock to win the Newcomers last year. I was hoping he would do okay in the Foxhunter qualifier, but I was never excepting to win. He was just unbelievable this weekend. Everything you ask of him he just gives you more, he’s a real trier.”
“The first two rounds were quite fiddly and required some careful jumping, but I was able to open him up in the jump-off. He’s got loads of stride and scope, he doesn’t always look particularly fast, but he covers the ground unbelievably well.
“We loved HOYS last year. He really excelled there so we’re really excited to be going back. The Foxhunter is a big step up but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him.
“Stainsby seems to be such a lucky place for us,” added Miles, who is based in Scotland with girlfriend Emma Crawford. “They have built it up into such a fantastic venue, and it is always such a worthwhile trip when we make the journey.”
In the Senior Newcomers Championship Second Round, Paul Barker secured top spot with his own Annie B III, outpacing his 75 rivals in a time of 44.91 seconds. Alex Bishop slotted into second with his own Nadal Van’t Asbroek, 1.30 seconds off the pace as Ronnie Lee Jones picked up another top three placing with Ultimo N Z.
Stainsby Grange Equestrian Centre – Sunday, 27 April, 2025
Senior Newcomers Second Round
1st - Miles O’Donnell & Jackpot DS – 0/0/0 36.83
2nd - David Harland & Murchacko Quatro – 0/0/0 37.13
3rd - Ronnie Lee Jones & Ultimo N Z – 0/0/0 38.73
NB: Results pending official grading.
Image: Kevin Owens – Digital Works
dr3495vmt1dp.jpg "Holly Smith is Unstoppable as She Wins the Redpost Equestrian Senior Foxhunter Second Round at Weston Lawns")
