‘If Chilli Morning had been beaten, I’d have been doing a bad job’

Chilli Morning bagged Bramham’s flagship CCI three-star event in both 2012 and 2013, but was lowered into the 2014 CIC three-star as a more suitable preparation for a potential World Equestrian Games tilt. Predictably, Fox-Pitt’s inmate romped to victory, after which the rider joked that he was kicking himself for running Chilli Morning in the wrong class and missing out on another Equi-Trek truck for the year, awarded to the winner.

“Good old Chilli,” said world 
No 1 Fox-Pitt after Saturday’s cross-country test finale.

“It’s just a shame he’s not in the other section, he could have won me another truck. But hopefully it’s all part of his summer plan which is why he was here.

“Chilli knew exactly where he was, which I’m sure makes a difference, when a horse is comfortable somewhere. He’s done really well all week and he’s been in the zone. He shouldn’t have been beaten and if he had have been, I’d have been doing a bad job.”

That never looked likely after an impressive dressage of 31.5 opened up a sizeable lead. Better still, his nearest rival after dressage, Oliver Townend’s Black Tie II, was always going to be withdrawn from Saturday’s action with this week’s CCI four-star at Luhmuhlen on his agenda, not to mention his rider’s wedding commitments. But nothing could get near Chilli Morning, who went clear in Saturday morning’s showjumping meaning even the most leisurely of cross-country rounds would have resulted in victory. After sailing clear with just 5.6 time penalties, the race for first place was done, even after just seven cross-country combinations had jumped.

Chester’s Dee Hankey and Chequers Playboy – third after showjumping – went clear at cross-country and inside the time to finish second, ahead of Belgium’s Karin Donckers and Fletcha Van ‘T Verahof, who dropped from second to third.

There was little joy for Zara Phillips, whose Black Tuxedo fell at the Woodhead Seeds Hollow.

Phillips’s second ride, High Kingdom, went clear but 6.8 time penalties meant a 12th-placed finish for the royal.

Keighley’s Charlotte Brear fared best of the Yorkshire contingent, finishing 18th on Manor Missile after a clear cross-country round with just 0.8 time penalties. Next in the White Rose pecking order was Harrogate’s Hazel Towers, 30th on Simply Clover.

Seventeenth after showjumping, Marton-cum-Grafton’s James Sommerville and Arco BB had to settle for 39th after problems on the cross-country course.

Sommerville’s other mount, Talent, was eliminated from the cross-country.

Huddersfield’s Hannah Taylor and Utrillo III finished 41st, one place ahead of Richmond’s Laura Ritchie-Bland and Zonnedauw.