Rain didn’t stop play at Hickstead this afternoon although the course proved more of a challenge than the weather in the Tom Hudson Derby Trophy with Billy Twomey taking the top prize.
Tough track
First to jump Billy set the standard jumping a superb clear with Thomas which proved a hard act to follow. A total of 16 riders retired while many more faulted over the tough track.
“When I walked the course I didn’t think there would be a load of clears as it was difficult ” Billy told H&C after the class. “You were running down hill to a flimsy gate at number 10 which was followed by a big oxer.
“The wet conditions did play a factor but that wasn’t the main reason there were so few clears as the ground felt good in the jump-off.”
Tactical clear
Just three other combinations joined Billy in the second round with Ireland’s Andrew Condon going clear with both Balzac and Arisito and Phillip Miller producing a foot perfect round on Unbelievable Lady.
Daryl Walker and Henry Turrell also jumped clear but both incurred just one time penalty to place them fifth and sixth place respectively.
Once again Billy was first to go and he rode a tactical clear in a time of 43.77sec.
“I knew Philip would be fast so I thought I’d try to jump clear and put the pressure on ” said Billy.
His tactics played off and it was enough to win him the class. Philip came a very close second with a clear in 44.32sec while Andrew was third on Balzac and fourth on Aristio who had one down.
‘Really useful’
Billy only took over the ride from his stable jockey Beth Vernon a few weeks ago and he has high hopes for the eight-year-old gelding who is owned and bred by Michael Bates.
“Beth has done a great job with Thomas – she’s a young rider and really capable so I’m very lucky to have her ” said Billy. “I’ve only been in the ring with him half a dozen times but he’s very straightforward.
“He competed in this ring last year with Tim Page which helped but he’s a relatively inexperienced horse. It looks like he could be really useful and if he keeps on going like this I’ll use him as one of my main horses.”