Could your horse jump this? Walk today’s two-star Royal International course

More than 50 combinations came forward for the Prenetics Castle Stakes, this afternoon’s two-phase CSI2* class at the Prenetics Royal International Horse Show. Come with us to see the fences they had to face…

The 1.35m-1.40m class started on the Devil’s Dyke side of the international arena, with this cream oxer

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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

Could your horse jump this? Walk today’s two-star Royal International course

Then it was left-handed to a big vertical at fence two

And right-handed to a solid square oxer at fence three. These first three caused few problems…

But then came the tricky line of a triple bar at four

Followed by the Prenetics double at fence five; an oxer in

And an upright out. This double caught a few out

Fence seven also caused issues; two riders in a row were eliminated for two refusals at this unusual-looking wall, while others had a single refusal or tipped a brick out

Then it was a bending line to a double at fence eight, a vertical in

And an oxer out

The jump-off started after fence nine so all those who had jumped the first phase clear — and for some, it was only these planks they hit — went right-handed to fence 10, the Science Supplements vertical

A bending line followed to the oxer at 11, which fell once or twice

Then it was left-handed back to the Al Shira’aa vertical

Right-handed again to the vertical at 13

And we’re back where we started for the last, another cream oxer at 14

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