Blue Grass & Blue Ribbons: EN’s Team Picks for KY3DE

Tilly Berendt

Winner: I’m eenie-meenie-miney-mo-ing it between Tom McEwen and JL Dublin and Yas Ingham and Banzai du Loir – and I think it’s probably Tom’s year. That decisive third place finish at Pau last year, plus the second at Kentucky, suggests that the win is on its way, and I reckon it’ll be seriously close, but it’ll go his way this week. Yas will, I think, also have her redemption with a podium finish.

Top US Finisher: It’s got to be Liz Halliday and her formidable Cooley Nutcracker for me. I’ll be real, here: I actually wasn’t ever that wowed by this horse when he was younger and learning the ropes with Astier Nicolas. But since he’s grown into his legs and figured his job out, I’ve been so thrilled to be proven wrong – and in the two years that Liz has had him, boy has she proven me wrong. They’ve got 13 FEI runs under their belts so far and have been in the top ten in 11 of them, including taking the USEF CCI4*-L National Championship at the tail end of last year. This’ll be the gelding’s first five-star, but last year he came achingly close to winning the tough CCI4*-S, but for an 11 at a table that I still haven’t emotionally recovered from because from where I stood, he looked super over it. In any case, he won his next run — the CCI4*-L at Tryon — and so that bodes well for this week, because he had an 11 in his last prep run at Stable View. I like to turn a bit of rough luck into a good omen in whatever tenuous way I can, frankly.

Best Mare: Logic says Boyd’s Maryland victor, On Cue, or Oliver’s Blenheim Eight- and Nine-Year-Old champ, Cooley Rosalent, but actually, I’m going to throw my vote the way of the sole Irish combination here, Susie Berry and Clever Trick. Clever Trick, or Owl, is a real classic kind of cross-country horse – she’s game, and blood, and quick with her footwork and her thinking, and I really rate her as the kind of horse that the late, great Jimmy Wofford would have been vocal in his admiration of. She’s not done a five-star yet, but I think she’ll be serious on Saturday, and while her dressage isn’t her strongest phase, if Derek’s built us a blinder this year, she’ll climb and climb. There’s another reason to get behind Susie, too – she helped produce Morswood, and rode him around a Young Rider Europeans before he came over to be Allie Knowles’s best ginger boy.

Dark Horse: He shouldn’t be a dark horse, really, but I suspect that Stateside audiences may not yet be super familiar with Germany’s Christoph Wahler, who has been second at five-star and seriously consistent at Championships with his top horse, Carjatan S. His ride this week, the leggy D’Accord FRH, is a debutant at the level, but quite a cool one. He and Christoph came together in 2022, and after a few early runs where they ironed out the getting-to-know-you bits, they’ve been absolutely on fire: in their last eight FEI runs, they’ve never finished lower than twelfth place, and have been clear and inside the time in six of them, adding just 2.4 time penalties in the other two. They’re also excellent show jumpers, which will be another tick in the box to help them climb from their first-phase score, which will set them around the 30 mark. While five-star first-timers always have the inevitable question mark over their heads about whether they can make the difference, I would be the most unsurprised person in the Rolex stadium if these two popped up in the top ten, or even the top five on Sunday.

Heart Horse: I’m not sure who I love more, Phelps or Mia Farley — but I do know that I want them to have all the nice things, all the time, because they’re great. This is, in part, because I’m a sucker for an OTTB, but it’s also because every interaction I’ve ever had with Mia has come about because she’s been helping me and Sally bully her partner, Woods Baughman, which means that she’s totally and completely a woman after my own heart. They were so, so, so cool at Maryland, and I really hope their Kentucky debut fulfils all their dreams, too.

CCI4*-S Winner: Shout-out to Katie Malensek, who pilots STX Mex in this class – this is definitely a horse to watch this year, and I really enjoyed seeing him develop on this side of the pond with my pal Tom Crisp aboard.

Cheg Darlington

Winner: I’m convinced it’ll be JL Dublin’s day on Sunday and we’ll see Tom McEwen grinning as he gallops ‘round the Main Arena for his lap of honor. He was pipped to the win by Tamie here twelve months ago due to cross country time penalties, but this pair have another year together in their saddlebag and have come out in winning form this season, taking the title in the 4*-S at Kronenberg last month. Dubs truly is a special horse: his dressage is genuinely a sight to behold, his bravery on the cross country is matched by his talent, and he’s super reliable on the final day. Still etched into the database of great eventing moments in my brain is the image of Nicola Wilson at the top of the podium at the European Championships in 2021. Dubs was a just a ten-year-old when he took that title after finishing on his dressage score of 20.9. He’s a true event horse, and Tom’s a true eventer – a winning combination – and, although it would be cool to have another US victory at Kentucky, I think Tom and Dubs would be popular champions.

Top US Finisher: I reckon we’ll see Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol H I M as the best of the US camp. ‘Chito’ really showed his mettle at Maryland last fall when he finished 4th – they were the highest placed US combination that day. He’s come out this season in hot form with a win in the 4*-S at Bouckaert Farm a few weeks ago and I really hope that momentum takes them forward and up the leaderboard at Kentucky. Chito’s brand number is 3, and he was drawn as third to go. They’ll actually be the second combination up the center line on Thursday after being bumped up the order by a withdrawal, but hey, I’m taking the numbers as a sign and predicting that this pair may well be on the podium come Sunday afternoon.

Best Mare: This is actually a really tough category because there are a number of very nice mares on the start list at Kentucky this year. I’m plumping for Oliver Townend’s Cooley Rosalent to top the herd. This mare is truly an exceptional talent and must be a very exciting prospect for Oliver, particularly given that she’s still only a ten-year-old. She’s proven that finishing on her dressage is entirely in her wheelhouse – in fact, she came racing out of the start blocks this season and did just that in the 4*-S at Burnham Market a couple of weeks ago – and when the dressage score is consistently in the low-20s, well, you’re surely onto a winner. Her third place at Maryland 5* last season really showed that she’s growing from each experience she has – putting the green 20 from Luhmuhlen firmly under her cinch and coming back out all the better for it. I hope she’ll do the same with the two poles that kept her from the top of the podium at Maryland and turn out a classy performance across the three phases this time around. I do want to add a shout-out to Kirsty Chabert’s Classic VI also – this mare’s day at the top of the top level is surely just around the corner. I was disappointed to see the chance of a 5* podium slip away from her in the show jumping at Pau, but I’ve no doubt that someday soon the three phases will come together for them like they did at Luhmuhlen in 2022 – where they finished on their dressage for second place – and Kirsty will take home the 5* win that this mare surely has in her. Just not this time around, purely because there are a few horses who’ll be higher up the board after the dressage, although to be honest, I hope I’m wrong about that and she starts her show jumping round on Sunday – after the speedy clear she can definitely deliver on Saturday – in with a real chance.

Dark Horse: I’m torn between two combinations for this – they’ve both got solid experience at the level and decent form in terms of podiums and placings. In no particular order, I’m hailing Ariel Grald’s Leamore Master Plan and Lauren Nicholson’s Vermiculus as dark horses to watch out for. They’re both exceptional geldings with plenty of experience at 5* as well as Championships appearances – I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the pair of them added another great result to their cards this week.

Heart Horse: Ah, this one is super easy – I’m a one guy kinda’ woman and that guy is Barnaby. There are three reasons why I love Lillian Heard Wood’s LCC Barnaby:

1. My first pony was called Barnaby.
2. My Barnaby looked just like a mini version of Lillian’s Barnaby.
3. LCC Barnaby is the epitome of an eventer who lays his heart out on the cross country course.

This guy literally grins as he gallops and jumps his way around 5* courses. He’s so up for the game and his enthusiasm for the sport never fails to remind me why I love eventing like I do.

CCI4*-S Winner: Wow, the line-up for the 4*-S at Kentucky is stacked this year! I’m going with Pan-Ams individual gold medalists Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. If you write up their last seven FEI runs like a racecard, it reads 3352112. That’s one heck of an impressive streak. With a dressage score that’s likely to sit mid-20s, super careful show jumping and no cross country jumping penalties across 20 international competitions – with the turn of foot to match – I think this combination is going to be pretty hard to beat.

Diana Gilbertson

Winner: Well, well, well, here we are again – Team Picks – and my indecision grows ever worse. This time, the difficulty is deciding between Yas Ingham and Tom McEwan. I feel like both of them have a point to prove. Last year she and Banzai du Loir came across the Atlantic as one of the favourites, after a sparkling debut here in 2022 when she finished 2nd to a record setting Michael Jung. An out of character blip across country left them out of the running though, and instead it was fellow Brit Tom who took the runner up spot. But he and JL Dublin didn’t have a straightforward season after that, either, although they did end the season back on the podium in Pau. SO after all that, who do I think will take the win? Er…One of them. I just don’t know which. Like seriously cannot choose. Yas. But only because I flipped a coin and she was heads.

Top US Finisher: When I grow up, I want to be Liz Halliday. She has got an insane FEI competition record, and one of the most impressive string of horses out there. Cooley Nutcracker is no exception. This may be his 5* debut, but he practically eats the cross country at 4* level, so this should pose no problem to him. Plus, Liz is a seasoned 5* rider, and has been round Kentucky more times than most, so who better to show him the ropes at the level. Bali is ready to take centre stage as the latest in a longline of superstars from the Halliday stable, and this weekend will see him do just that.

Best Mare: Again, tough call, like asking to choose my favourite Spice Girl. For me, as with most of my colleagues here at Eventing Nation, it would seem, it is between Cooley Rosalent, Clever Trick and Classic IV. I love them all; they are all feisty, independent women – the Destiny’s Child of the equine world, if we are going to keep on with the girlband theme. But Oliver Townend and Rosie’s round at Maryland is still fresh in my mind, so I am going to plump for Cooley Rosalent to take the Best Mare moniker here. That and I am a sucker for a grey. I might even be so bold as to say she could take the third place on the podium behind Tom and Yas – testament to her talent, not her colour, I might add.

Dark Horse: I don’t know if Calvin Böckman and The Phantom of the Opera count as a dark horse – at the tender age of 23 (he celebrates his 24th birthday over Kentucky Weekend), this guy has already got more medals than most, and he and The Phantom of the Opera have a verrrry impressive FEI record thus far. But still, this will be their first 5* start, and so for me, that qualifies them as a contender for the Dark Horse category. That, and the fact that the name ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ is, for me at least, synonymous with mystery and intrigue (it also happens to be one of my favourite musicals). They have every chance of finishing well up the leader board having rarely been out of the 20 in recent years. I’m not one to make bold, predictory statements, but I would say that these two are The Next Big Thing.

Heart Horse: Mia Farley and Phelps, with a side of Monica Spencer and Artist. Actually, you know what, I’ve a big heart, so there’s equal room in there for both. Artist stole my heart after that Pratoni performance, when he and Monica appeared out of nowhere (or New Zealand, whatever), taking the International Eventing scene – ad the rest of us – by surprise, and they have continued to impress ever since. Similarly, Mia and her best pal Phelps exploded onto the 5* scene last Fall at Maryland, where they romped around their first 5* – the only pair to finish within the time – to finish fifth. The story behind both of these horses – bought for next to nothing ($1, in Phelps’ case) after a failed racing career, only to become world class eventers – never fails to bring me out in goose bumps, and my heart swells every time I watch them. I love a Thoroughbred at the best of times, and these two dudes are flying the flag loud and proud for OTTBs. Top 10 for both of them I reckon. I’ve made wilder predictions.

CCI4*-S Winner: Yikes. The entry list for the CCI4*-S is as exciting as that of the 5*, with a slew of top names, including Pan Am Gold medallists, Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, winners of the Grand Prix Eventing showcase, Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS, as well as the afore mentioned Goddess Liz Halliday with three rides – Miks Master C and Cooley Quicksilver amongst them. Up until the beginning of this week of course, the wonderful Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, last year’s fairytale winners of the 5*, were also on the list. Obviously they would be my go to here if that were still the case, but since their unfortunate withdrawal I am going to have to revert to another one of the afore mentioned big shots. I can just about narrow it down to Miks Master C — third in last year’s 5* — and Chin Tonic HS. On account of the fact that I chose Liz as the best US finisher in the 5*, I am going to go with Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Got to keep things fair here, after all – and he does seem to have hit his prime this year – long may it last…there’s a pretty big event happening over in France later where that form might come in handy…. Still, with an entry list like that, it will be a fight to the finish, and I am looking forward to seeing it all unfold It really will be (one of) the Best Weekends all year! (I mean, we still have the Olympics to come, guys. Kentucky can’t have it all this time).

Abby Powell 

Winner: It’s incredibly hard not to pick last year’s runner up Tom McEwen and JL Dublin for the win this year (unless you pick Yasmin Ingram and Banzai du Loir, honestly flip a coin) so I’m not going to! Tom and Dub’s partnership is another year older and another year stronger. A 5* win for this pair is simply a matter of time and Dubs seemed to quite enjoy his time at the Horse Park last year. A my disclaimer though, seriously, I’m not betting against Yas and Banzai either!

Top US Finisher: She’s 18 years old this year, but age is just a number so don’t count On Cue out. She may have had a bit of time off post-Maryland, after she won the inaugural event in 2021, but her rider Boyd Martin clearly felt that the special mare had more to give. They came back to the 5* level at Burghley last year, finishing an extremely respectable 10th place. In fact, in all their previous three starts at this level, they’ve never finished lower than 10th. If On Cue can pull out a clean jumping round in the final phase like she did that year at Maryland, I believe the fairytale could happen again.

Best Mare: Other than On Cue (as above), I think that Ema Klugman and her syndicate-owned toe-flicking Bronte Beach have the potential to take this title, despite this being the mare first appearance at this level. I’ve had the pleasure of watching Bronte in-person a handful of times now and she sure shines in the sandbox and is a beast around the cross country! If she takes a liking to the Rolex arena and puts her best foot forward in the show jumping on Sunday, who knows how far up the leaderboard this pair could ultimately end up.

Dark Horse: Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way are my pick here. It feels like it wasn’t all that long ago that “Mason” was running his first 5* (it was 2021 when he made his debut at this level which I guess is a hot minute ago now, but time still feels like a blur post-2020. I digress) but this will be his sixth appearance at the level and he’s clocked completions and top-half of the pack finishes at minimum in each of them. We know Mason has the potential to go sub-30 in dressage — he did it at Burghley — and he’s a cross country machine. If Will can get this “little boy in a toy store on a sugar high” (his words in a previous interview!) then the sky is the limit for this pair!

Heart Horse: I think Mia Farley and Phelps stole a lot of hearts, including mine, after their 5* debut last year at Maryland. Mia was the epitome of realness and relatability throughout the whole event and how can you not have a soft spot for an OTTB who can rock around cross country like Phelps can? Just keep your jumping shoes on for Sunday Phelps, c’mon!

CCI4*-S Winner: I have to admit I haven’t been quite as involved with coverage this years as I have in past years, so I am just really looking at the 4* entry list right now and yikes, that’s one big stacked list! Out of a good handful of serious contenders, if I have to pick one, I’ll pick out Liz Halliday and Miks Master C to scoop up the win here. Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS might have the edge after dressage, but “Miki” and Liz have the edge in cross country time, which I think will ultimately give them the upper-hand.

Sally Spickard

Winner: Tom McEwen and JL Dublin

It’s been a bit of an “always a bridesmaid” for Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, who’ve twice hit the podium at the 5* level, including a second place finish at Kentucky last year in the pair’s first 5* together. They followed that up with a third place finish at Pau that fall. While this partnership is still relatively young, it benefits from the experience of both horse and rider, and one could be fooled into thinking the two have been together for much longer than two years. “Dubs” has a 4*-S win under his belt this spring and seems to have come into Kentucky in fighting form. I think we could see Tom nab his second 5* title (he also won Pau in 2019 with Toledo de Kerser) this weekend.

Top US Finisher: Doug Payne and Quantum Leap

Quantum Leap still seems like he tends to fly a bit under the radar at these major events, but in truth he’s one of the best jumping horses in the field. Doug’s been working hard on some updated warm-up strategies for Quantum, encouraging him to flow more forward in his dressage work. That practice has paid off this year as the 13-year-old U.S. bred gelding has been delivering some quality tests. If he can squeak down toward his personal 5* best of 29.5 (Maryland – 2022), he’ll be in good standing to make a bid, but don’t count him out if he scores a little closer to his low-mid 30s average — this is a pair you can nearly count on to climb their way up the standings with clear and quick jumping rounds. Experience is also not to be counted out: Quantum has completed six 5* events to date. Could this be lucky number seven?

Best Mare: Cooley Rosalent

Oliver Townend and Cooley Rosalent are not a pair to count out for the win, but I’m slotting “Rosie” into the Best Mare spot for now. This exciting younger mare seriously impressed with a gusty performance in her 5* debut at Maryland last fall, where she finished third. Oliver has had great success on this side of the pond in past years, and he’s also making an astonishing 100th start at the 5* level this weekend — good luck beating that number.

Dark Horse: Mia Farley and Phelps

Mia Farley and Phelps are a great underdog story. Phelps, who was purchased off the track by Joanie Morris and then sold on to his current owner, David O’Connor as a sale project. No one stamped Phelps to be an upper level horse, full stop, in the beginning. But I’ve grown to really respect Mia’s ability to quietly and empathetically produce a horse, and mostly to her surprise she put in the work and secured a top five finish in her very first 5* last year at Maryland as the only rider to go clear inside the time on cross country. Mia is nervous for this first go at Kentucky, but she should believe in her preparation and the relationship she’s built with Phelps and who knows — maybe a podium finish is in the cards for this easy-to-root-for pair.

Heart Horse: Claus 63

This was a bit too easy of a choice, as I’ve worked for Sharon White for several years now and have had the privilege of watching Claus flourish under her expertise. Claus is the sixth horse Sharon will have brought to this level; many fans will know her well from the iconic photo of her and former 5* partner Cooley On Show over the ditch and brush fence on cross country. In Claus she has found a different type of ride, but one she believes very strongly in. She’s been qualified to bring Claus out at 5* for a couple years now, but as is her nature she meticulously ensures no stone is left unturned in her preparation. I’ve watched her continue her own education as a horsewoman while also helping Claus be his best self in all three phases. Their record has a few growing pains on it, but on their weekend this pair is absolutely capable of delivering a competitive finish. Education and setting the horse up for a long career will be her priority this weekend, but Sharon’s also as competitive as they come so you know she’ll be in it to perform her best.

CCI4*-S Winner: Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS

Is this a unanimous team vote? I’m not sure, but I feel it likely might be. While the Cosequin Lexington 4*-S is very competitive this weekend, and while I also know Will is setting his horses up for the Olympics rather than necessarily trying to go for gold this weekend, he’s also sitting on a potential world-beater that could earn 10s in his sleep. Time will be tricky to make on cross country as it usually is in a short format, but should Will find himself atop the board after phase two it’s hard to imagine anyone besting him.

Veronica Green-Gott

Winner: Phillip Dutton & Azure
We all know Phillip Dutton’s credentials, it would come with very little surprise to see him at the top of the podium. Azure is a slightly more controversial choice to win the 5* this weekend, as this will be the mare’s second attempt at the 5* level. However, if you look at Azure’s record, you’ll quickly see that this mare is a real athlete with a top-level pilot on board. This deadly combination has had no obstacle faults on their record, and the time penalties they do receive are typically at the 4*-S level. I think there’s enough galloping room on this track for the brave mare to really hit her stride and crack on to finish with few time penalties (I’ll refrain from saying zero to avoid jinxing them).

As for last year’s elimination at their first 5* attempt at the Maryland Five Star, that was a combination of a bit of bad luck and some miscommunication. As Phillip said, “I accept the blame, as I didn’t get the right line for her to the second corner.” We all have a few bad days sometimes, and I’m willing to bet Phillip has fewer than pretty much everyone. All that being said, he and “Sky” seem to be back at it and right as rain based on their 2024 performances. I wouldn’t hold their involuntary dismount against them heading into this weekend’s competition.

Top US Finisher: Barring Phillip & Azure, Liz Halliday & Cooley Nutcracker
Barring Phillip & Azure, Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker would be my choice for Top US Finisher. Sure, it’s the gelding’s first crack at 5*, but I’d be willing to bet Liz will be riding competitively. “Bali” is just as much a competitor as his rider with a record filled with podium finishes. Together, I wouldn’t put it past this pair to make their first 5* a great one.

Best Mare: Ema Klugman & Bronte Beach
When I ran into Ema on the cross country course this morning, I greeted her by calling her Esquire Klugman, before remembering that she’s a lawyer, not a medieval knight-in-training. Either way, I’m a big fan of Ema Klugman Esq. and hope to see her at the top of the pack. I’m also a big mare person and Bronte Beach just seems like a lovely horse. Plus, with Bendigo on her shoulder, there’s no other mare I’d rather believe in. According to her record, “Bronte” is particularly brave, with only one run out/refusal. She does get some time penalties, but with fewer on the longs than the shorts, the galloping room at Kentucky may work in her favor there.

Dark Horse: Mia Farley & Phelps
If you were there when Mia Farley and Phelps crossed the finish line as the only pair to make the time at the Maryland Five Star last year, you would have them as your dark horse pair, too. The cheering, the tears, the hugs, the joy– the whole mix zone/rider tent celebrated with her. Mia always has a smile on her face and a great attitude to go with it. Plus, I’m a sucker for an amazing OTTB and Phelps is absolutely one.

Heart Horse: Chin Tonic
You know how some people are convinced that some celebrities are just lizards disguised as people? Well, I’m convinced that Chin Tonic is not actually a horse, but a Pegasus in disguise. This horse is so silky smooth and catlike in his movements; I could just watch him all day long. If I ever had the chance to ride Chin Tonic (hell I’d take a pony ride) my life would be complete.

CCI4*-S Winner: Danito & Tamie Smith
How can you not choose a horse with the nickname Danito the Flaming Cheeto as your 4* winner? After a brief hiatus, I’m thrilled Danito is back and ready to go. He’s finished on the podium at events like the Maryland Five Star and Rebecca Farm. While this will be his first return to competition at the Kentucky Horse Park since he was eliminated here in 2021, I have faith that this redhead can get the job done.

Gillian Warner

Winner: It’s hard to not pick Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. While we see an incredibly talented field, these two consistently wow with a low 20s dressage score, typically pick up just a bit of time cross country, and jump well under pressure on the last day. They’ve certainly had their experience under pressure, and have delivered. It will be exciting to watch them in Kentucky again this year.

Top US Finisher: I’m keeping my eye on Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker. Although this will be his 5* debut, with top ten finishes in seven of the nine 4* these two have run together, and with Liz’s extensive experience, I imagine they’ll impress.

Best Mare: I love a good mare, and there are plenty competing this weekend I’d love to take home with me. That said, a few in particular catch my eye, including On Cue, who has only ever finished in the top ten at the 5* level, and Karma, who may be making her 5* debut, but who has two 4* wins under her belt, as well as a top 15 finish at the Boekelo Nations Cup.

Dark Horse: 5* debutante Wakita 54 has my eye. As I said, I love a good mare, and “Kiki” and Andrew McConnon have years of experience together, including three top ten finishes at the 4* level in 2023, an impressively clean cross country record, and a trip around the Kentucky 4* last year.

Heart Horse: I have to pick Doug Payne’s sweet Quantum Leap. During my time working with Doug, Quantum’s kind personality, athletic ability, and adorable face made him so easy to fall in love with. Of course, he’s also finished in the top ten in five of the six 5* events he’s competed in.

CCI4*-S Winner: This is near impossible with so many strong pairs in the mix for the 4* this year. For me, it’s between William Coleman and Chin Tonic HS and Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Both are wildly impressive in the dressage, hold incredible cross country records (HSH Blake without a cross country jump penalty to date) and tend to show jump quite well. Chin Tonic HS has competed through the 5* level, and HSH Blake has the experience of a win at the Pan Ams last year. It’s hard to pick, and I could see it going either way, but I’ll go ahead and say Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake.

Token Horse Show Boyfriend of Team EN, Alex 

Winner: A rumour, that I am definitely not starting right now in this article, has it that Yasmin Ingham prepares for every cross-country round with 37 Cadbury’s creme eggs, bought at a post-Easter discount price. I think that’s probably the diet of a champion so she’s going to win this with Banzai du Loir.

Top US Finisher: Liz Halliday dropped 200 pounds of dead weight over the winter and I reckon that’s probably made her even more aerodynamic than usual. Cooley Nutcracker is ready to crack some nuts, and so is Liz, probably, and if I’m honest, I’m a bit scared of her, but also very impressed. Go show ’em, Liz.

Best Mare: I pick Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI, because Kirsty is a real magician. This is an inside joke that I’m including purely to make it very clear here that my primary role at these shows is to befriend everyone, but also I don’t annunciate very well, because Kirsty thought I was a magician when I told her I was a musician. You win some, you lose some. Anyway, Kirsty wears good sunglasses for cross-country and I do think this horse could move into my winners’ spot if she, too, wore sunglasses. Just something to think about.

Dark Horse: Susie Berry and Clever Trick seem really cool. I base this entirely off the fact that Tilly went to their yard recently to do a photoshoot and all the horses looked like nice horses. Also I hear the Irish have started winning five-stars now. Good for them!

Heart Horse: Last year at Boekelo’s Tuesday night party I confidently told Christoph Wahler that he and D’Accord FRH were going to win. They came twelfth, so this time, I’m just going to say that I like this horse.

CCI4*-S Winner: I was going to say Liz again, but then Tilly reminded that Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS exist. He’s a pretty-coloured horse, isn’t he? Just an excellent shade of horse. I think that’s all you really need to win.