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Michael Whitaker triumphs in Royal Windsor Grand Prix

Jane Carley, H&H reporter

11 May, 2008

Michael Whitaker won the Royal Windsor Grand Prix on the eight year-old Insultech Amai, in the horse's first Grand Prix.

After a strong start, Michael anchored back for the tall Land Rover upright which caught out so many, before pushing on for a flyer over the final vertical and oxer.

"He's only had one fence down all week, and I think he's pretty special. We'll take it easy with him, but he'll go to Rome and do some of the minor classes," he said.

The bold winning round surprised William Funnell, who took the runner up slot with Julia Slade's Cortaflex Billy Birr.

Duncan Inglis was the only other clear in the jump off and the first to set the standard with the home-bred Sunkist 3.

Last year's winner Tim Stockdale and Fresh Direct Corlato fell victim to the other big upright in the jump-off, while setting the fastest time of the class for fourth place.

Nicole Pavitt crowned a successful week with a good win in the Accenture Young Riders' Grand Prix on Maestro de la Rend Peine.

From a flying start, Nicole had to ride skilfully into the double and then take a pull down to the last.

Hailey Adams and the relatively inexperienced Quidditch gave a confident performance for second place.

Lola Wade went into the jump-off after an adjustment of the time allowed – she had originally been given a time fault – and her careful clear round paid off over a track that caught plenty out, taking third place.

Mark Armstrong and Caleta reigned supreme in the six and seven year-old internationals, winning the final day's class to add to an earlier win and placing.

The six year-old grey mare survived a late rattle in the first round before some impressive lines in the jump-off gave her rider more than 1sec in hand over David McPherson and Maxim Trijol.

Results

Land Rover 6&7 year-old championship

1. Caleta (Mark Armstrong)

2. Maxim Trijol (David McPherson)

3. Argento (John Whitaker)

Martin Collins International Speed

1. Huron des Gerbeaux (Graham Lovegrove)

2. Raport (Ljubov Kochetova)

3. Royal Concorde (Shane Breen)

Accenture Young Riders Grand Prix

1. Maestro de la Rend Peine (Nicole Pavitt)

2. Quidditch (Hailey Adams)

3. William IV (Lola Wade)

Windsor Grand Prix

1. Insultech Amai (Michael Whitaker)

2. Cortaflex Billy Birr (William Funnell)

3. Sunkist 3 (Duncan Inglis)

Don't miss H&H's full report on all the action from Royal Windsor, on sale Thursday 15 May, '08

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• Michael Whitaker and Portofino out of the Olympic Games
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