Peter Charles wins Derby Trial

Peter Charles and Carnavelly wins Osborne Refrigerators Derby Trial ahead of Hickstead’s big test on Sunday.

Peter Charles led an Irish one-two in Friday’s Osborne Refrigerators Derby Trial. The Hampshire-based rider’s opening round on the British-bred Carnavelly in a three-horse jump-off was good enough to hold off Kevin Babington and Carling King by exactly 1sec, with Di Lampard settling for third after Abbervail Dream lowered the planks.

Peter’s cousin, Damian Charles, who competes for Britain, took fifth on Romulus, while others to go well were Michael and John Whitaker, who faulted at the penultimate water and final parallel respectively on First Samuel and Virtual Village Steps Helsinki.

“Carnavelly’s a bit of a worrier, but if I can keep in the sort of rhythm he had today, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t jump clear in the Derby,” said Peter, whose next international outing will be a trip to Calgary.

Scaynes Hill Speed Stakes

Event rider Pippa Funnell is celebrating after succeeding in her quest to qualify her dual Eventing Grand Prix winner, Anne Burnet’s The Tourmaline Rose, for this year’s Refco Speed Derby.

The pair produced a superb clear to finish 10th in the Scaynes Hill Speed Stakes and qualify for Saturday’s speed Derby, where Pippa, who has always thought that the grey mare has the scope to make an international show jumper, will be anxious to once again put the professional riders in their place.

Click here to read show jumping results