A versatile mare, who contested both the working hunters and the 2026 Royal Windsor amateur hunter championship, sponsored by Rosettes Direct, put fences down in the workers behind her to impress the judges and claim the amateur title.
Francoise Babington rode her own Scarlet Ribbons (J-Lo) to victory after topping the amateur lightweight and small class – beating last year’s winner Hannah Binks and Oaktree Day Dream into second.
The 12-year-old, by Wish Upon A Star out of Javelin, also competes with Francoise in the open hunter ranks as well as ladies hunter classes and the workers. They lifted the amateur hunter supreme title at the 2025 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).
The pair unfortunately had fences down during their turn about the workers course earlier in the morning here, but made up for it on the flat by impressing their judges in the afternoon.
Francoise said: “We’ve had a wonderful day. She jumped her heart out in the workers this morning. We had two down, which was my fault. We finished sixth, so then it was wonderful to come into this championship. She’s not put a foot wrong all day.”
J-Lo has won the working hunters at Royal Windsor in the past under a previous owner, so riding her to the double was “lovely”, she added: “She’s been an absolute superstar.”
2026 Royal Windsor amateur hunter championship reserve
Rose Bailey and Calcourt Victor – winners of the heavy and middleweight class – were reserve in the 2026 Royal Windsor amateur hunter championship.
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This was Rose’s fourth consecutive win in the class albeit with a different horse. She took the championship in 2025 and 2024 with another mount, Bloomfield Greystones, and the pair also stood reserve in 2023.
Rose works full time as a lawyer and lives in central London with her horses based at Jayne Ross’ yard in Buckinghamshire.
Team Ross’s Olivia Minihane steered the impressive grey to victory in the middle/heavyweight workers division earlier in the day and later, overall reserve champion working hunter.
Also forward for judging in the amateur championship were Georgina Dunne and Gunpower Plot, who were second in the heavyweight and middleweight class.
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