Barbury Castle Horse Trials offers £6,000 to winner

Barbury Castle Horse Trials is offering £1,000 more to the winner of this weekend’s CIC*** than last year.

“As a result of the high entries for all classes and advance ticket sales, we have decided to increase the winner’s purse to £6,000, with prize-money extended down to the top 30 placings,” said the event’s chairman and host Nigel Bunter.

Barbury has a new title sponsor this year, wealth management company St James’s Place. The event received more than 150 entries for the CIC*** — a record for the event and possibly for a CIC. Some 15 horses have been wait-listed, so, after withdrawals, more than 120 are expected to compete.

Both of Barbury’s previous winners, William Fox-Pitt and Ballincoola and Polly Stockton (pictured) and Tom Quigley, are back looking for a second victory. Other favourites for the title include Mary King on Chatsworth winner Call Again Cavalier and Oliver Townend on Burnham Market victor Flint Curtis.

For the British riders hoping for a team place for the European Championships (13-16 September at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy), there is the added pressure of the promise of a team announcement the week after Barbury.

Among those bidding to be Barbury’s first foreign winner are Andrew Nicholson, with last year’s Bramham winner Henry Tankerville and the consistent Lord Killinghurst, and Andrew Hoy, who brings 2006 Kentucky champion Master Monarch, as well as new ride Waylaid.

The large Irish contingent is spearheaded by Geoff Curran, who rides Balladeer Alfred and Kilkishen, who went well in the first two phases here last year before a stop thwarted Geoff’s bid for victory.

• For more information on visiting Barbury go to www.barburyhorsetrials.co.uk
• For full list of entries visit www.bdwp.co.uk/bar/

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