Event Rider Masters: Day 2 Preview

SHOW JUMPING SPECIALISTS:

• Tom McEwen (GBR) and Toledo De Kerser have never incurred a show jumping fault in 9 international appearances, making them the only combination to line up with a 100% career show jumping clear round percentage.

• Key combinations hot on their heels in terms of proficiency are Crocket 30 and Nicholas Touzaint (FRA) who are 11 from 14 (78.6%), and Kitty King’s (GBR) Ceylor LAN who averages a career strike rate 77.8% of clear rounds in the second phase, but is the only horse in the field to string five consecutive clear rounds together in the last 12 months. Kitty has the most impressive show jumping figures at this level, producing 22 clears from 25 attempts (88%) over the past six years.

• All three of the above combinations, whilst being strong in phase two, have been trending in the mid 40s in the dressage, and haven’t yet produced evidence that a difficult optimum time will help their case.

• One combination who do have podium potential and have produced 4 clears from their 5 show jumping rounds together at CIC3 star competitions, is Christopher Burton (AUS) and TS Jamaimo. They have two major wins under their belts. The first was in fairly extraordinary circumstances when Chris was given TS Jamaimo as a catch ride for the Adelaide four star back in 2013. They were the only combination to finish on their dressage score on that occasion and kicked off their partnership with an incredible win. Their second win together came at the Gatcombe British Open last season where they finished 4.5 penalties clear of a high-class field. They produced the horse’s career best score of 36.9 in the first phase, had one fence down in the show jumping and went to record the second fastest time of the day to win comfortably. The overall profile of this combination looks ideal for leg one of the Event Rider Masters.

CROSS COUNTRY SPEEDSTERS:

• Tim Price (NZL) and Xavier Faer have made the time on all three of their most recent international starts, including at Boekelo where they did so despite 20 jumping penalties on the cross country.

• Cathal Daniels (IRL) and Rioghan Rua are the only combination who have beaten the clock at 4 internationals in the last 12 months, but both of these may find themselves with too much ground to make up after phase one with both averaging in the 50s.

• Izzy Taylor (GBR) and KBIS Briarlands Matilda are further added to their speedy reputation their impeccable cross country round in tough conditions at the Blair Castle European championships in 2015. Reliability for a clear jumping round may be an underlying concern, but they are very likely to feature prominently at the conclusion of the event if all goes to plan.

• Probably the fastest man in the sport on current form is Oliver Townend (GBR). Between the national and international three star classes at Belton earlier this year, there were 5 clears within the time – 4 of those were recorded by Oliver. At Burnham Market, he became the first person to finish on his dressage score in over 6 years.

COURSE FORM:

• In 2014 Paul Tapner (AUS) and Yogi Bear VIII soared from 20th place after dressage to a final 4th place over the Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth CIC3 star track. They return for this year’s feature class.

• Also returning is the only horse in the field to have previously won over this course which is Horseware Stellor Rebound and Ireland’s Sarah Ennis. Not only have this combination won here (2014), but they also finished 2nd in 2015, giving them the best course form in the field by a long way. They are one of 3 combinations entered to have 4 top five finishes at CIC3 star level (along with Yogi Bear VIII and Loughan Glen) and their stats in each phase make them genuine contenders to extend their successful run at this venue.

There is a strong French contingent fighting for this illustrious title, and amongst them are the pair that finished 2nd to Ennis back in 2014, Cedric Lyard and Cadeau Du Roi. They had a sub 50 finishing score on that occasion which is difficult to achieve at Chatsworth. They also warmed-up for this class with a win at Fontainebleau CIC2 star on a final score of 35, so their bid is a genuine one.

FINAL CONTENDERS:

• 2015 Saumur champions Matthieu Lemoine (FRA) and Bart L will undoubtedly be in the mix having demonstrated finishing scores in the very low 40s at international three star competitions.

• Compatriot Thibaut Vallett and Qing Du Briot Ene Hn were the individual bronze medallists at the European championships last year and they have 3 finishing scores in the 40s at three star level already under their belts. The cross country jumping record has the odd glitch in the past for this combination, and time penalties have also been a factor, but if they improve on their Blair performance then their late addition to the field could prove very fruitful indeed.

Following on from a highly impressive dressage score of 36.60, and in 2nd place overnight, Aoife Clarke riding Fernhill Adventure will definitely have her eyes on the prize today.

• The final mention goes to a woman who has four career wins at international competitions, two of which include the last two consecutive runnings of the Blenheim 8&9 year old CIC3 star. The horse that gave Jonelle Price (NZL) the first of those two victories is Faerie Dianimo and they line up with a serious chance here. Their most notable result has to be their 2nd place at the Luhmuhlen four star last year on a score of 32.8. The pair average just 1.2 time penalties from their last three runs, had an average dressage score of 40.9 in 2015, and haven’t knocked a show jump or incurred a cross country jumping penalty in their last 6 international runs.