The King's horse has First Hickstead title

Katie Jerram claimed today's Tattersalls RoR Open Ridden Show Series Championship, riding The King’s 'phenomenal' gelding First Receiver.

“I have won this title twice: I won in 2013 on Barbers Shop for Her Majesty The Queen, who was bred by the late Queen Mother - so that was very, very special,” Katie said, “And then today I won on First Receiver, bred by the Queen and this time owned by the King."

The nine-year-old, known as “Firsty,” now ranks as the best retrained racehorse Katie has ever produced, having captured all but one major Retraining of Racehorses title — the supreme at the RoR National Championships at Aintree.

The pair were reserve champions at Hickstead last year on the horse's first visit to the showground. “He went one bit better this year, which was my dream. He won Horse of the Year Show, he’s also won at Aintree but hasn't won the Supreme, so he’s got one more title to get," added Katie.

“I’ve always had amazing support with the Royal horses, so I’ll be straight on the phone to Erica Bridge, the Crown Equerry,” said Katie, who was first introduced to the King this year at Royal Windsor.

“She’s fantastic, she wants all the photographs of them — photographs of them playing with the cat or the water on the yard, doing silly things. Natural photographs of horses being horses, which I think is absolutely lovely, that they are pets as well.”

The Amateur title went to Tori Thomas and her prolific gelding Wonga Swinger. The pair were the winners of both the Open and the Amateur title here in 2023. 

Lynn Russell and her Irish cob Guardian Of The Galaxy topped the line up in The Agria Coloured Horse Ridden Championship for the second consecutive year.

“I bought him unbroken and broke him virtually on my own,” said Lynn, who will bring the six-year-old gelding back for the Agria Royal International. “He’s got an amazing temperament, is a lovely horse to work with and he’s a fab ride.”

For full results click here.