Phillip Miller takes Kent County Grand Prix

Phillip Miller and Caritiar Z win the Kent County Grand Prix

Phillip Miller claimed first place in Kent County Show's £2,500-to-the-winner Grand Prix with Caritiar Z. The Hertfordshire-based pair jumped the fastest of just two double clears in the class, which closed the three-day show.

Wet conditions
Two days of heavy rain had pelted the show's Astor Ring, but the ring crew worked hard on the ground so that the class was able to go ahead. Because of the going, which was soft on top, course-designer Kelvin Bywater did not included a water jump and only had one combination, a double, in his first round course.

"It actually didn't ride too badly," said Phillip. "Although, we did have to wash 'Carter' off after the first round because he was covered in mud."

Over half clear
No one particular fence caused a particular problem and seven of the 13 starting combinations jumped clear, including two rides for Tina Fletcher.

She was first to go on her Hickstead Derby winner, Promised Land, who toppled the penultimate vertical this time. David McPherson followed with Billy Bishop and, mindful that the heavier going would take it's toll on his rivals' mounts in the jump-off, opted for a steady round. He recorded the first clear, but then had to wait to see if any others would risk trying to better his time while being able to keep the course intact.

Sian Price's Step In Time was without fault and up on time approaching the final double. But then, hitting the first vertical element of it, finished with four faults, while Tracey Priest and her Detling Stakes winner Calle knocked the first to fences' top rails off.

Tina Fletcher, who was third with Promised Land, on her
new ride Ursula XII

New ride
Tina Fletcher then had her second chance of winning, this time with new ride Ursula XII, who is owned by Lady Kirkham. The 10-year-old mare was previosuly ridden by Mark Turnbull and Tina had liked her since seeing her at Olympia 2010. In this round, only the second vertical fell for the new combination.

"I've only had her four six days, so she was so good to jump the way she did in not ideal conditions," said Tina. "It wasn't as bad as it looked, but the horses were getting a bit tired in the jump-off."

Winning round
Phillip was the next to go with Di and Pennie Cornish and Nigel Eccles' 11-year-old son of Chellano Z. Making a tight turn to a vertical in the middle of the course, he did not just beat David's time, but the time of everybody in the class, regardless of faults.

He went into the lead by 3.55 seconds, with only Daniel Moseley (Seventh Fee) left to contest the winner's purse. However, two fences down for Daniel, who was second in the previous day's Hadlow Area Trial the previous day, meant he dropped down the line-up to finish seventh this time.

David McPherson and Billy Bishop jump double clear
to finish second

Programme paying off
Caritiar Z is on a winning streak at the moment and joint owner Nigel Eccles believes his management regime at home is paying dividends.

"Phillip's brother James has worked out a programme of back treatments, dental care and the horses are generally being treated the same as a human elites would be treated," he said. "It is obviously working out as 'Carter' is being so consistent this year."

The next major event for Phillip and Caritiar Z will be the Queen's Cup at Hickstead's Royal International Horse Show meeting, where the Greenacres team will be out in force to support them.

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