Phillip Miller wins the Blue Chip grand prix

The Blue Chip grand prix thrilled and entertained on day three of the Blue Chip Championships at Hartpury. It was the on-form Phillip Miller — a double winner at Addington two weeks before — who claimed the £2,000 on Caritiar Z.

Only four of 30 reached the jump-off, including Peter Charles, whose masterclass proved popular and informative. But the 2010 Nations Cup hero failed to catch Phillip, and settled for second on Murka’s Rubert R.

Last-to-go Helen Tredwell defended her 2010 title robustly, and although the game Opportunity B beat the time, the final two fences hit the floor.

“The track was tough and the time tight,” said Phillip, “but good old ‘Carter’ is so reliable.”

There was no stopping Peter Harris. The Staffordshire rider claimed a victory double, taking home the Blue Chip Dynamic B and C and Halsall Electrical 1.25m titles.

Gary Power’s consistent stallion Ulysses landed the B and C for Peter after negotiating Steve Renouard’s tricky course. The 38 starters yielded only seven clears.

Several riders doubled their chances in the 1.25m as 16 of the initial 50 produced clears, but no-one matched Peter’s round with Louise Apperley’s Tako.

“This is unexpected,” said Peter, “and I don’t think I’ll manage to repeat the double next year.”

Beth Vernon broke the records registering her third successive victory in the Blue Chip Pro sparkle JC/JA. Her first win came in 2009 on Falaza, with 2010 champion Cinderella Girl again triumphing this year.

“I’ve been last to go each time in this final, so I didn’t feel pressure — it was a good omen” said Beth, who was also first and third in the warm-up with Cinderella Girl and Falaza.

Results

Blue Chip Pro sparkle JC/JA ch. – 1, Cinderella Girl (B Vernon); 2, Manninard Seabird (F Pickard); 3, Amilie JR Z (A Chitty). Blue Chip Dynamic B&C ch. – 1, Ulysses III (P Harris); 2, Upperclass M (S Birch); 3, Capello II (J Dimmock). Halsall Electrical 1.25m ch. – 1, Tako (P Harris); 2, Carus Royale (E Llewellyn); 3, S Zermie 3 (A Davies). Blue Chip gp. – 1, Caritiar Z (P Miller); 2, Murkas Rubert R (P Charles); 3, Ursula XII (M Turnbull). Blue Chip JC/JA. – 1 & 3, Cindrella Girl & Falaza (B Vernon); 2, Shafts Montego Bay (O Sanford). Henley & Barr jnr challenge. – 1, Manninard Seabird; 2, Sequoia True Legacy (P Stronge); 3, Falaza. Nedz Bed 1.15m winter classic qual. – 1, Cosmic Neo (E-J Slater); 2, Tanara II (S Jimmison); 3, Easter Tracks (B Smith). Halsall Electrical 1.25m qual. – 1, Don’t Touch (R Davies); 2, Luidsoir (J Dimmock); 3, Ximena (E Whitaker). Blue Chip nov winter classic qual. – 1, Cheri Amour (C Purves); 2, Posiedon II (R Kelleher); 3, Litle Miss Valentine (E –J Slater). Nedz Bed 1.15m winter classic final. – 1, Vinny II (J Kirkby); 2, Westerhofs Limit (S Holliday); 3 eq, Cosmic Neo (E-J Slater) & Easter Tracks (B Smith). Blue Chip nov winter classic final. – 1, Little Miss Valentine (E-J Slater); 2, Curraghmore Chopper (E Morris); 3, Blitzer Go (B Vernon).

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