Joe Clayton is top of the class in the HOYS Newcomers final

Joe Clayton and Lexi III were the fastest of nine combinations in the jump-off for honours in the Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Championship at HOYS on Wednesday (5 October).

Joe, who is based with British Olympian Michael Whitaker in Nottinghamshire, put pressure on his rivals with a super sharp turn between the first and second fences, which left the audience gasping. “I think I gasped as well!” he joked afterwards, referring to the turn. “Normally, when someone else has done it, you have a bit of confidence there, but I was the first one to do it and it came off. I had confidence in the horse’s ability. She wouldn’t have done any turns like that before, but I was always confident in the horse to jump the fence and get in the right place. That’s the risk you take, and it came off for me today.”

Holly Smith and PLS Halo Diamond ended up second in the Newcomers, but they went one better later on when winning the Addington Manor Talent Seekers class.

It was a tumultuous day for Holly, who suffered a crashing fall earlier on during the Cuddy Working Hunter of the Year Championship.

But things went much more to plan in the Talent Seekers, with Lammy Beach winning by more than two seconds.

“I’ve had three jumping horses today and a Working Hunter – I’ve ended up on my face on one, had an eight faults and a four faults, and my last one pulled it out of the bag. I meant business in that jump-off,” said the Leicestershire-based rider.

Having sold her Nations Cup ride Dougie Douglas last year, Holly has been concentrating on bringing on younger horses and rebuilding her string. “I was expecting it to take me a few years to rebuild, but since I sold Dougie Douglas I have had more time to devote to my young horses, and they have come to the fore much quicker than I expected,” she said. “I am hoping that maybe he (Lammy Beach) could jump a Nations Cup next year, maybe a lower division one. I am going to go abroad with him a bit more, and try to get him mileage over the bigger tracks with the technicality and travelling. I’ve got a definite plan for the horse.”

Horse & Country’s coverage of HOYS is brought to you in association with TopSpec. Watch the daily highlights show on H&C TV each night at 7.30pm from Thursday to Monday. Watch on Sky 253 or sign up to H&C Play to watch on your computer, smart phone or tablet.