William Fox-Pitt
3 Star classes at Belton International
Pippa Funnell and Billy Beware
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Pippa Funnell was right to say yesterday that there were plenty of good riders to come in the CIC3* dressage phase today and William Fox-Pitt was one of them. However, William couldn’t knock Pippa from her top spot in the CIC3* Lycetts Grantham Cup Section M – that honour was left to the lady herself.
Riding Billy Beware Pippa produced an ever better test than her 28.5 on board MGH Grafton Street yesterday, scoring 24.9 to maintain the lead while William squeezed between her two horses with a score of 27.4 on board Little Fire for second place after the dressage
William has brought the nine year old Little Fire for some ‘atmosphere’ as part of his education and, although he was taking in the sights and sounds, he was also listening to William and produced a lovely test
William and Little Fire
With his two more experienced campaigners William is also in the enviable position of leading the CIC3* Section N on board, Bay My Hero (25.9) and occupying second place on Fernhill Pimms (26.30). Both horses had some time off during William’s convalescence but are now ready to hit the big time again; Fernhill Pimms, 10th at his first 4* start at Burghley in 2015, is no longer headed to Kentucky but may make it to Badminton and Bay My Hero, 4* winner at Kentucky in 2014, is also having his first big start in a while. But despite a limited preparation, William feels they will handle the track tomorrow
“They’re cool dudes” says William of his two experienced horses “They’ll deal with whatever, they’re not flouncy, fancy horses, they’re good old workers and they just enjoy getting on with the job”
Kevin McNab and Casperelli
While Pippa and William were doing a great job flying the flag for Britain, the Australian contingent were putting in some fine performances too. Kevin McNab and Casperelli currently hold third place (27.5) behind William in the CIC3* Section N and Bill Levett on Improvise is in fourth place (29.50). We’ve had our eye on Casperelli for a while now as ‘one to watch’ and both Kevin and Bill are two of the most elegant dressage riders around
Bill Levett and Shannondale Titan
We talked to Bill about his three rides in the CIC3* classes with Alexander NJ currently on 34.4, Shannondale Titan on 31.40 (Section M) and Improvise in fourth in Section M
Kevin had a good day, not just in the dressage arena but out on cross country where he picked up two fourth places in the CIC2* sections on board Willunga and Brookfield Quality. His wife Emma is also in the hunt in the CIC3* Section M on board Fernhill Tabasco in 12th place (29.6)
Another Australian, Chris Burton is currently in equal sixth place on board Quality Purdey in this class but more about that to come …..
