Ten horses for Tim and Jonelle plus another 3 for Cosby Green headed up to Cambridge for Little Downham and the last big one day of the season. Little Downham is based on peat so can take allot of rain and it’s normally a fairly dismal end of September event held in drizzle at best, pourring rain at worst and cold and misty to boot.
Today it was run in glorious sunshine with wall to wall blue sky, no wind and no rain which Jonelle declared “delightful, and the best ground Little Downham has ever seen” which was high praise indeed!
The horses stabled overnight which was challenging with no hook up for the truck and no lights in the stables at Ely Equestrian but with an 8am start for the dressage and some 4.5 to 5 hours travel up from Dorset very necessary. Tim had 5 in the advanced and Jonelle had a mixed bunch of intermediate, OI and advanced for the day for her 5.
Faerie Usain (Maude) finished off her season in style with a 33 on the flat and a double clear jumping with just 2.4 time to wind up in 8th spot. Her sister Faerie Good Golly was as bright as could be having not been out since her 3*Long at Hartpury and used that to her full advantage to push her luck to the limits with Jonelle. She scored a 33 on the flat as well in her OI section but, being the sassy young kid that she is, jumped another double clear with just 2.8 time to sit inside the top 15.
Chilli’s Midnight Star (Ollie) had his first run back since Scone Palace 4*Long and he gave a great account of himself with a 31, a rail and a speedy 3.2 time cross county to pip Golly into the top 12. Jonelle was delighted with his attitude and the way he felt so all boxes tickled should he find himself heading out to the USA for Maryland in October.
Two feisty mares for the advanced for Jonelle; Hiarado (Jools) and Grappa Nera (Grape) and it’s usually Grape who is in the ‘off her head’ category but today it was Jools who ticked that box. Grape was actually on a PB in the advanced dressage with a 33 and, as Jonelle said, she managed to stay on the line and in the correct pace for every movement which is a first at that level. Jools was wild from the get go although she scored a 32 which Jonelle described as ‘generous’ and as was mentioned, she definitely needed the outing before Pau!
Jools copped an unusual rail, Grape jumped a lovely clear and they both had a superb time around the advanced cross country. Grape actually made the top 10 and Jonelle pronounced herself very happy with her day.
Tim had 5 horses in the advanced and it was Happy Boy who had the most chance of winning as he trumped the others to post a cracking 30.5 test and a clear showjumping round as he headed into cross country.
Jarillo (Milo) did a solid 30.4 and a double clear with some 14 time to consolidate his Pau preparation. Brookfield Future News (Matthew) is so reliable and yet agin he stepped up to his advanced with Tim for a 32, a rail and a lovely clear with 9.6 for 7th spot. Chio 20 scored a 33 on the flat and also added a rail and 10 time for top 12 and Global Quest ( George ) was a bit off the pace for a 37 on the flat but then jumped double clear with just 6.8 time for 4th spot and some prize money.
And Happy’s winning bid? He was storming around the advanced with the win in both their sights until the last corner at fence 19. He ran off twice, added 60 jumping to his score, dropped out of contention but, importantly, he did come home. Happy is the ultimate in brat and normally this signals a win in his next three day. Whether that is Boekelo 4 Star or Pau 5 star is in Tim’s hands!
Photos: Lead, Jools, below, Grape. Credit Jackie Olivier.
